Finding time for exercise in your jam-packed schedule might seem like an uphill battle. Trust me, I get it! Our lives are a whirlwind of endless tasks and obligations that never seem to slow down. But guess what? Exercise doesn't have to be a dread-inducing, time-consuming ordeal at the gym. No special equipment needed either! Let's unveil easy-peasy ways to seamlessly weave fitness into your daily routine and make it an inseparable part of your busy, vibrant lifestyle. Get ready to bid farewell to those excuse monsters and say hello to a happier, healthier you! 🌟
Simply Fit Board (find my full review here)
Oh, let me tell you about the Simply Fit Board! This little piece of plastic is seriously awesome. You can easily stash it away (just throw it under the couch if you want), and guess what? It doesn't require much skill to get started. Plus, it's so much fun!
You can find some incredible Simply Fit Board workouts on YouTube, or you can just hop on and start twisting! It's low impact, which means it's great for whole-body workouts or if you just want to focus on cardio. And you know what's the best part? You can do this while watching TV or even during a Zoom call (though you might want to turn your video off for that!). Personally, I like to bring out my Simply Fit Board when I'm watching my favorite shows and get my workout done during commercials. Cool, right?
15 Minute Walk
A 15-minute walk? Duh! No-brainer, right?
So, here's the deal: I kickstart my mornings with this little act. Why? Well, I've got these adorable doggos who are masters at pushing me to get going.
Let me tell you, this short walk works wonders. Not only does it get me moving and feeling better, but it's also a total mood booster. And guess what? The pups couldn't be happier. It's like a quadruple win!
Just find a picturesque spot nearby. Or hey, start with a stroll around your own garden. Easy peasy!
Office Workouts
Hey, I know a lot of people are still working from home these days. The good news is, you can totally do these workouts at home too!
I remember when I used to work in an office and man, sitting at a desk all day was the worst. I ended up gaining so much weight when I left my retail job, it was just awful. I guess I had stopped moving around like I used to (and those office coffee runs didn't help either). But hey, have you ever tried using a stability ball? It's actually great for working your core and giving you that extra fitness boost.
Oh, and here's another cool idea: chair exercises! I found this awesome video with a bunch of exercises you can do right at your desk. It's a fun way to get in your workout without even leaving your chair!
Body Weight Exercises
The resistance effect you get from doing bodyweight exercises can be as effective as free weight or weight machine training. The trick here is to do these exercises in 10-15 minute increments. Squats, lunges, and pushups are a few common bodyweight exercises. YouTube and Pinterest are great resources for finding more options. For those who just want a quick rundown of exercise options, Self magazine has an amazing list!
Housework
Our society is full of conveniences, right? I mean, imagine how our moms or grandmas used to clean the house! But nowadays, we've got things like robot vacuums to make our lives easier.
Now, don't get me wrong, I love my Libman Freedom Spray Mop for everyday cleaning. It does wonders! But let's be real, nothing beats getting down and dirty with the floors. Not only does it give us a killer workout, but it also works those muscles we don't always use. Plus, don't forget about all those extra calories burned!
I mean, you don't have to make your housework feel like a Herculean task or anything. Just consider ways to sneak in a bit of exercise while doing your everyday chores, you know? Take putting away the dishes, for instance. Got a lower cabinet or drawer? Instead of just bending down, why not squat down and put those items back where they belong? You'll surely get that extra squat in each time while giving your back some love too!
Hey, I'd love to hear some ideas from you! How do you think we can make exercise a part of our daily housework routine?
Alarm or Reminder
Oh, you know what's awesome? Using technology for good! It's my favorite part of being a modern traditional woman. With my phone, I can make my life so much easier. I keep track of my entire day on it, and creating reminders is a piece of cake. I even have it remind me when it's time to get ready for bed because otherwise, I'll lose track of time and stay up way too late!
Back when I used to work in an office, I had a reminder that would go off in the morning and in the afternoon. It would remind me to get up and move around, even if it was just a quick walk around the building or a trip to the coffee machine. These little reminders helped me get closer to my goals, even if it was just a few hundred steps at a time.
Multitask
You know what? There are plenty of moments in our day when we can actually multitask and squeeze in a little exercise while doing mundane stuff. Like, how about squatting while brushing your teeth? I used to do 10 squats every time I went to the bathroom (that's a sneaky way to stay active at the office without looking like a total freak, right?). Oh, and you know what I love? Walking lunges. They're my absolute favorite thing to do at home. I have this perfect hallway where I can bust out four quick lunges in a jiffy.
Dance
I absolutely adore cranking up the music at home and losing myself in the dance. It's a liberating experience, a moment where I can simply be me, with no one watching. Plus, it's a tremendous way to reap all the benefits of moving my body. Fun fact: thanks to my background in ballet, tap, jazz, and tumbling as a child, you might catch me busting out some pliés or spontaneous cartwheels at any given moment... keeping the Peeping Toms on their toes!
Fitness Trackers
My vivosmart HR+ has been a total lifesaver! I absolutely love using the Health App on my phone to track my daily steps, but there's one catch – when I switched back to working in retail and eventually started working from home, I realized I wasn't always carrying my phone with me. So, a bunch of my steps weren't being counted. It was quite frustrating, to be honest.
But you know what? My Garmin came to the rescue! It's been doing a fantastic job in the meantime before I get my hands on an Apple Watch.
UPDATE: I actually managed to score an Apple Watch using the rewards points on my credit card! Now, I'm completely in awe of the seamless connectivity between my watch and my phone. I can even answer calls without actually knowing where my phone is. Trust me, it's a real game-changer, especially when I tend to misplace my phone quite often. Thanks to the nifty phone finding feature on my watch, it's no big deal anymore! (I wrote a blog post about it here.)
Here's the thing – I've noticed that on the days I don't wear my watch, I tend to be way more sedentary. But with this amazing watch, I've got a built-in reminder to move function that's fully customizable to keep me active throughout the day. Plus, it syncs with my phone, so I never miss any important notifications. Back when I was working in retail, this feature was a lifesaver because it would discreetly let me know if something urgent popped up without interrupting my flow.
But here's the real kicker – whenever I have my watch on, I find myself challenging my own steps record. The rush of dopamine I get when I hit 10,000 steps is unbeatable, and let me tell you, the celebratory notification I receive is icing on the cake! And you know what's even better? Every once in a while, it tells me I've doubled my daily goal. Talk about an amazing sense of accomplishment! Whichever smart device you choose, having a wearable is a game changer.
Have you given any of these tips a shot? How do you manage to squeeze exercise into your busy day? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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