How to Find the Time to Workout

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“I saw you running this morning! You were booking it!”

“Thanks! I’m trying to get back into it and now I have a 5K two weeks away so I am really, really committed–I don’t want to pass out and die on the course!”

“I wish I could do something like that, but it’s so hard to find the time.”

If I had a nickle for every time I’ve had a similar conversation I would own a Kate Spade purse. We all know that we should be exercising 30 minutes a day or something like that, we’ve bought the expensive workout clothes, joined the gym, read the training plans, pinned the workouts, but that’s as far as we get.  Time has infamously gotten away from us, that sneaky little devil!

I workout on average 5 days a week for 25-45 minutes a day, depending on the workout. I have a baby, a husband,  two part time jobs, friends, and family that all fill my time. I’m not a superhero or anything special, but I have worked out this piece of the puzzle and if I can find time to exercise you can find time to do it too! Here is how I find time to workout: 

1. It’s a priority to me. For my emotional and physical health I NEED to exercise. I am one of those weirdos that actually like to workout. I love being active and even though I may not be “into” a workout beforehand, I know that it makes my body and brain feel amazing and so it is a priority to me. I like the way fit me feels and so I workout. You have the same amount of hours in your day as Beyonce, Obama and every other mom, dad, working professional, or college student who is also out there busting it at the gym! There is no secret superpower–some have just made it a priority and are organizing their lives around that priority (7 Habits of a Highly Effective People–awesome book!).

2. I get up early. To be honest I think getting up early may be the real secret to successfully sticking with an exercise routine. Thankfully my baby is a great sleeper and my husband doesn’t go to work till a little before 9, so I don’t have to get up crazy-crazy early to get my workout in, normally around 7. Starting your day with fitness is an awesome feeling and it is amazing to have that crossed off your to-do list first thing! Nothing can get in the way of it if you do it first! (Check out more tips on My Morning Routine!)

3. I have a backup plan. Start with a plan and a backup plan for your workout. Then have a backup, backup plan just in case. For example, my plan for tomorrow is to wake up at 7 and go to our camp gym and do a strength training workout. If I sleep through my alarm tomorrow and don’t wake up till 9 that’s okay. I’ll grab my weights and do an at-home workout on the deck (Thank God for Pinterest Workout boards!) while Layla plays in the yard in the morning.  If it’s raining and I “can’t” workout in the morning I can put in my 30 Day Shred dvd during naptime. If during naptime something for my part time job comes up that I HAVE to take care of right then and I can’t workout, it’s okay. They day isn’t over till it’s over. Every night at 8:00 pm a little alarm goes off on my phone. It’s the “last call workout” alarm. If I haven’t done my workout yet it is my final chance to get ‘er done!

4. Build your at-home workout collection. I can have multiple back up plans because I have built up a great little home gym for myself. See more about my home gym setup in my Cheap Fitness Ideas post! To sum up, I have weights, an exercise ball, a weighted ball, a band, a yoga mat, and a variety of workout dvds (I stock up on them for the winter so I have lots of variety for the long winter months!).

5. Embrace imperfection. There is a really cool movement called #wycwyc that is promoting health and fitness doing what you can when you can. It is founded by two bloggers I have a lot of respect for: Roni Noone and Carla Binberg. The premise is simple: I walk that you DO is better than a jog that you DON’T.  An extra flight of stairs is better than the elevator. Buy a fitbit and aim to take more steps todaythan you did yesterday. Little changes over time add up in huge ways. So stop thinking of the little as little! Just do #wycwyc (what you can when you can).

Also, yes, if you take 30 minutes to workout you may need to make simpler meals, accept laundry pileup, and not make kefir from scratch. I’m good with my hair air-drying and crumbs on my floor in order for me to have time for a workout!

[tweetthis url=”http://bit.ly/1IxKbZF”]How to Find the Time to Workout. A busy mom shares her secrets! #FitFluential[/tweetthis]

If you can make working out a priority, get up a little earlier, have a backup plan (and backup, backup plan), build your at home gym so you always have options, and finally do what you can when you can you will be well on your way to building the habit of working out! Yes, we all have busy lives and habits take time to build, but it is possible and you CAN do it!

How do you make time for working out? If you workout how often and for how long? 

If you don’t, what is the biggest thing getting in your way? 

Linking up to Workout Wednesday & Fitness Friday & Momma Told Me plus some other great link parties!