There’s No Excuse: You Really Do Have Time To Exercise

You actually have more time in your schedule than you think

The sad truth is this: Only 31 percent of adults in the United States engage in regular physical activity, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. It’s no wonder nearly 72 million Americans suffer from obesity, the fastest-growing health concern in the country.

And do you know why the majority of the other 70-something percent say they don’t workout? Because they don’t have time. Seriously. Not for fear of the burn, not because of the effort it takes to change their bodies. They simply cannot find any time in their day.

Come on, now. If you’re using this excuse — as I have used as recently as four weeks ago — you know it’s not true. You have the time. You just don’t want to make space for a workout — even if it’s the recommended 30 minutes a day. Let’s be honest.

But you’re here so that means you want to make a change. Hooray! Here are some helpful tips to prioritize your day and free up some time to get you in the gym or out on the pavement:

Audit your time

The best way to keep track of how you really spend your time is to keep a time journal during a typical week. Write absolutely everything down: How much time you spend getting ready in the morning, time spent checking your email and time you spend working each day. You’ll find areas where you can trim — or cut out altogether — to free up some time in your schedule.

Cut out all time sucks

Turn off the T.V., log off Facebook and for goodness sake, stop checking your Twitter timeline every five seconds. These are all time sucks and if you’re not careful, you’ll find yourself still in your pajamas as the sun’s setting, covered in Flamin’ Hot Cheetohs crumbs while saying, “I’ll do better tomorrow.”

Instead of spending your free afternoon or evening catching up on all your favorite shows at once, try watching an episode or two and then delving into something a bit more rewarding — the goal to become the best version of yourself by living a healthier lifestyle. Don’t give yourself time to weigh your options or find something better to do. Turn off the T.V., lace up your running shoes and get moving. Now.

Make Exercise A Priority

Americans are encouraged to spend at least 30 minutes each day doing moderate exercise. You hear that? A minimum of 30 minutes every day. You aren’t being asked to do two-a-days and spend loads of time in the gym. You’re told, “Hey, you’ve got 23 ½ hours to get everything else done. Just spend a fraction of that time getting your body healthier.”

When you think of it that way, all of your excuses not to get moving seem a little silly, don’t they? Now that you’ve come to that realization — which I hope you have — it’s time to make changes right now. So what are you waiting for? Getting going!

We’d love to hear how you’ve found the time to live a healthier lifestyle. Leave a comment below!

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