| "I know I need to exercise, but I just don't have the | | | | 3. Buy a home gym or home workout equipment. |
| time." | | | | There are extremely effective workouts that can be |
| Sound familiar? | | | | done at home with little more than a set of adjustable |
| This is the number one reason given for not exercising: | | | | dumbbells and a workout ball. You will be able to save |
| a lack of time. But like so many "reasons" for not doing | | | | the time it takes to drive to gym (and the money for |
| the things you know you should be doing to better | | | | the membership) and you can fit a workout routine into |
| your life and your health, it's really just another excuse. | | | | your busy schedule much more easily. |
| The truth is, you find time for the things you want to | | | | 4. Use the weekends to your advantage. It is often |
| find time for. Whether it's a favorite TV show, a child's | | | | easier to find an extra hour on the weekend. By |
| soccer game or dance recital, or getting together with | | | | making it one of your workout days, you have fewer |
| friends or family, if it is important to you, somehow you | | | | workouts to schedule through the week. |
| manage to squeeze it in. | | | | 5. Make full use of your workout time by multi-tasking |
| Why not give your health and well-being the same | | | | whenever possible, especially for those times you are |
| level of importance? Once you have made exercise a | | | | walking or on the treadmill. You can read a report or |
| top priority, you'll be surprised how easy it becomes to | | | | read or listen to a book. You might be amazed at how |
| fit a workout into a busy schedule. | | | | much you can accomplish. |
| Here are some tips to help you get started. | | | | 6. Incorporate the help of others, and delegate |
| 1. Put it on the calendar. Schedule your workout time | | | | responsibilities. If someone else at home can pitch in |
| just like you would a doctor's appointment or a parent | | | | and help on your workout days, let them know you |
| meeting at school. Give it the same importance as any | | | | need their help. A spouse or older child can get dinner |
| other appointment worthy of being included on the | | | | started, mow the lawn, or run an errand for you so |
| calendar or in your day planner. Make sure it's at least | | | | you have the time you need to get your workout |
| three times a week or you may never see the results | | | | done. |
| you want, and you will end up quitting. | | | | 7. Lastly, if you just don't see how you can possibly |
| 2. Get up earlier. Part of reason so many people fail at | | | | squeeze out another minute in your day to devote to |
| consistent exercise is because they try to do when | | | | exercise, at least incorporate it into your daily activities. |
| they least feel like it: after putting in a full day at work. | | | | Take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk down the |
| Getting up an hour or even a half-hour earlier in the | | | | hall to deliver a message rather than sending email, |
| morning gets your exercise done and out of the way, | | | | park farther away and walk to the office or during |
| not to mention the healthy boost in energy you'll feel | | | | lunchtime. Any activity is better than none. |
| that will help get you through your day. | | | | |