How to Find Time to Work Out

How to Find Time to Work Out In an article I wrote  called A Day in My Life, a reader asked me a question  that I thought would be great to share with the rest of you. Question: I was curious, when do you make time to work out? Isnt this a great question that we all are trying to find the answer to? What I love is how she asked the question. She didnt say how do you find time to work out. She said how do you MAKE time to work out. This simple change makes all the difference because YOU are in charge of  your life, your calendar and your to-do list.  Take control right now! Being busy is one of the biggest excuses for lack of exercise.   Who doesnt have a million and one things to do  and when you finally complete all your work, the last thing you want to do is get on the treadmill and do more work.  Trust me, we have all been there but there are a few easy things that you can do to increase your motivation after a busy day. What I have found is that the times that I am the least stressed are actually  when I am in a workout routine.   Research shows that the more exercise, the better for our health and stress level.  Research says that people who exercise every day reduce their risk of anxiety and stress levels by more than 40%! Exercise can help by providing an outlet for negative emotions such as worry and anxiety from your workday and it can help your body  return to a balanced state more quickly.   It can also give you more energy along with improved self-esteem and confidence.   Energy and confidence are very important on the job and this is why it is important to  make exercise a  daily habit. Last year I  trained for  a marathon while working full time  and going to school.   It was one of the busiest times of my life but also one of the  most productive times of my life too. I had so much energy because I was working out regularly and fueling my body with the right foods! The other  great perk was that  I felt  great about myself for accomplishing a goal that I had had for years.  I also  felt like I was doing better at work and school during this time and even had more energy for social activities (when I could find the free time).  Here are the secrets I have learned to find time to work out with a busy schedule. P.S. I am not perfect and have my good workout days and I have sit on the couch days too. They key is to do your best and to not be too hard on yourself if you slip up from time to time. How to Find Time to Work Out 1. Plan ahead The secret to working out with a busy schedule is planning ahead, creating a schedule and sticking to that schedule. Make  working out  important  by marking it on your calendar just like you would a doctors appointment. 2. Work out with a friend I found that working out also gives me time to enjoy with my friends that I might not otherwise get.   It is a social activity that I look forward to.   If you plan to go for a run with a friend or play sports with a team, they will not be very happy with you if  you dont show up.   This will encourage you to use your time wisely, especially  early mornings. 3. Have your workout clothes ready to go Another tip is to come straight home, change into workout clothes and then head straight the the gym.   Better yet, change at work and go directly to the gym without stopping at home.   I have found that if you wait longer than 10 minutes at home before heading to the gym, chances are that you wont make it to the gym.    You will start getting hungry  and that fabulous dinner and dessert  in the fridge will call your name instead. [RELATED: My Health and Balance Challenge: 60 Days of Insanity Workouts] 4. Make it easy to start If it takes a ton of time you wont do it. You can find time to squeeze in 15-20 minutes and build up to 30 minutes to 60 minutes just three times per week. Its all about getting over the hard part of starting. Once you start and add it to your schedule for a day or two, you will start loving it and youll be jumping out of bed to workout! Even Keith Ferrazzi, the world’s foremost expert in professional relationship development, finds time to work out  with a nonstop schedule even busier than all of ours!   In his book, Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time, Keith says,  As hectic as my schedule can get, I never miss a workout (five times a week).   You have to take care of yourself- your body, mind and spirit-to be at your best. Now with all this talk about exercise, I am feeling a little guilty sitting on this couch in my sweats.   Guess its time to  head out for a run! How do you find time to work out with your busy schedule?