Here's how to make time for exercise in your busy schedule
It's not as impossible as you may think!
Schedule your workout as if it were an appointment.
Instead of casually thinking, âOkay, Iâll work out when I can tomorrow,â or âIâll fit it in after work,â write your workout down and schedule it for a specific time as though it were any other appointment or meeting. That way, it feels like something you can't easily cancel at the last moment. The night before (or at the beginning of the week), look at your calendar and figure out what time works best to fit in a sweat session.
Write that down and then â this is key â plan everything else around it. Donât push it off to the side if something else comes up (unless itâs an emergency, of course). Treat it like something you canât just walk away from.
PHOTO: Poh Kim Yeoh / EyeEm
Start waking up a little bit earlier.
Studies show that working out in the morning is more beneficial, so why not try it out? If your schedule allows you to wake up an hour earlier every day, start doing it. It will be tough in the beginning, but as with anything else, you will eventually adjust. Working out first thing in the morning, before the kids are awake and before your to-do list begins to creep up on you, can feel refreshing and rejuvenating. Itâs an accomplishment before youâve even eaten breakfast, and then you donât need to worry about it the rest of the day.
PHOTO: Tassii
Make it something you genuinely enjoy.
Itâs much easier to make time for a workout when youâre doing something you truly love. For example: if you hate running, donât force yourself to go for a jog! You donât want to do it, so youâre more likely to come up with excuses as to why you shouldnât. Find a workout that you love, whether thatâs swimming, taking group classes, boxing, or simply walking, and stick to that. If itâs something youâre looking forward to, youâre way more likely to do it.
PHOTO: Martin Barraud
Buddy up!
Canât make it to the gym because your only spare hour of the day is being taken up by a hangout session with a friend? Ask your pal if you can make it an active one! You two donât necessarily need to hit the gym together â you can take a walk, go to a fun class together, or even take a brisk stroll through the mall while running errands. Who knows, your friend might need that push, too! The other advantage of working out with a friend is that scheduling something with them will make you less likely to cancel â they basically hold you accountable.
PHOTO: Peathegee Inc
Break a sweat at home.
Sometimes the act of getting ready and then driving to the gym can take up so much time that you skip the workout altogether. If thatâs the case, just do the exercise at home! If you find this happening often, ditch the expensive membership and buy some weights and other equipment you like for home. There are plenty of apps to download that offer great at-home workouts or you can even search them for free on YouTube. You may find it more manageable to fit exercise into your schedule when it doesnât require you to leave your house.
PHOTO: Zing Images
Do short, high-intensity workouts.
If youâre able to, you may want to consider switching things up when youâre really busy and opting for a short, high-intensity workout instead of something longer. So, instead of a 45-minute treadmill session, try a 15-minute HIIT workout. Workouts donât have to be long to be effective â sometimes just 15 minutes of really pushing yourself is just as good.
PHOTO: simonkr
Think positive.
If you wake up every day thinking, âUgh, I donât have time for a workout,â then guess what? Youâre probably not going to work out, because youâve basically already decided that itâs impossible. But if you wake up thinking of it as a challenge to tackle â âI might be busy, but I can definitely make time for this!â â then you will be more likely to make time for it. Positive thinking is so powerful, even if you donât realize it.
PHOTO: Luis Alvarez
Choose a gym thatâs close by.
Going to a gym that takes more than 20 minutes to get to isnât going to work out unless you have a lot of extra time in your day. Try to pick a gym really close to your home, nearby the office, or at least on your commute home. Itâs so much easier to stop in when youâre close by: You can head over there on your lunch hour, right when you wake up, or on your way home.
PHOTO: Westend61
Get creative!
Really donât have time to schedule in a sweat session? Start getting creative. If you need to clean the house, do a few squats every time you bend down to dust under the coffee table. Do some lunges as you pick up the kids' toys. Jog in place while waiting for pasta water to boil. Get the baby to take a nap by going for a run or walk around the block with the stroller. It might just be a few minutes, but that adds up â and it's definitely better than nothing!
PHOTO: Peathegee Inc
Make your commute your workout.
Itâs not possible for everyone, but many people are able to make their commute a workout instead of spending precious time driving or taking public transportation. Riding a bike or jogging to work is a great way to get your workout in while also getting where you need to go.
PHOTO: Westend61
Get the kids involved.
Want to exercise but also need to keep an eye on your little ones? Get them involved! If you have a small baby, go for long walks together or get a jogging stroller once theyâre old enough. If you have little kids, find a gym that has a babysitting room to care for them while you work out, or find a class that allows you to bring them along. You can even get them to work out with you by playing active games at home.
PHOTO: Westend61
Sacrifice your lunch hour.
You donât always need to ditch lunch hour â sometimes the break is needed â but if youâre having a particularly busy day, head to the gym to work out during lunch, then eat at your desk, if possible. Itâs nice to get that work out done while youâre still on the clock, and itâs a good way to re-energize so you can get through the rest of the afternoon.
PHOTO: xavierarnau
Take advantage of every situation.
Have to spend the afternoon at your kidâs soccer practice? Instead of just sitting in the stands watching, jog around the field a few times while they play. Dialing in to a conference call? If itâs just over the phone, work out while listening in. Spending your whole day at the office? Swap your chair for a stability ball. Little things like this can be effective if you work them in throughout the week.
PHOTO: Ella uzan
Invest in equipment.
If you never have time to hit the gym but you love working out on a treadmill, elliptical, stair master, or something similar, then consider investing in a workout machine. If itâs in your home, itâs hard to find reasons not to use it. Plus, you can work out while catching up on your favorite TV show, reading a book, studying, calling into a meeting, watching your kids⊠the list is kind of endless. It might come with a hefty price tag, but the investment could be well worth it in the end.
PHOTO: Sasha Shtepo
Sleep in your workout clothes.
Want to work out in the morning but having trouble getting motivated when youâre half asleep? Try sleeping in your workout clothes instead of pajamas so that when you wake up, youâre ready to roll out of bed and go!
PHOTO: JGI/Jamie Grill
Schedule your workout as if it were an appointment.
Instead of casually thinking, âOkay, Iâll work out when I can tomorrow,â or âIâll fit it in after work,â write your workout down and schedule it for a specific time as though it were any other appointment or meeting. That way, it feels like something you can't easily cancel at the last moment. The night before (or at the beginning of the week), look at your calendar and figure out what time works best to fit in a sweat session.
Write that down and then â this is key â plan everything else around it. Donât push it off to the side if something else comes up (unless itâs an emergency, of course). Treat it like something you canât just walk away from.
PHOTO: Poh Kim Yeoh / EyeEm
Start waking up a little bit earlier.
Studies show that working out in the morning is more beneficial, so why not try it out? If your schedule allows you to wake up an hour earlier every day, start doing it. It will be tough in the beginning, but as with anything else, you will eventually adjust. Working out first thing in the morning, before the kids are awake and before your to-do list begins to creep up on you, can feel refreshing and rejuvenating. Itâs an accomplishment before youâve even eaten breakfast, and then you donât need to worry about it the rest of the day.
PHOTO: Tassii
Make it something you genuinely enjoy.
Itâs much easier to make time for a workout when youâre doing something you truly love. For example: if you hate running, donât force yourself to go for a jog! You donât want to do it, so youâre more likely to come up with excuses as to why you shouldnât. Find a workout that you love, whether thatâs swimming, taking group classes, boxing, or simply walking, and stick to that. If itâs something youâre looking forward to, youâre way more likely to do it.
PHOTO: Martin Barraud
Buddy up!
Canât make it to the gym because your only spare hour of the day is being taken up by a hangout session with a friend? Ask your pal if you can make it an active one! You two donât necessarily need to hit the gym together â you can take a walk, go to a fun class together, or even take a brisk stroll through the mall while running errands. Who knows, your friend might need that push, too! The other advantage of working out with a friend is that scheduling something with them will make you less likely to cancel â they basically hold you accountable.
PHOTO: Peathegee Inc
Break a sweat at home.
Sometimes the act of getting ready and then driving to the gym can take up so much time that you skip the workout altogether. If thatâs the case, just do the exercise at home! If you find this happening often, ditch the expensive membership and buy some weights and other equipment you like for home. There are plenty of apps to download that offer great at-home workouts or you can even search them for free on YouTube. You may find it more manageable to fit exercise into your schedule when it doesnât require you to leave your house.
PHOTO: Zing Images
Do short, high-intensity workouts.
If youâre able to, you may want to consider switching things up when youâre really busy and opting for a short, high-intensity workout instead of something longer. So, instead of a 45-minute treadmill session, try a 15-minute HIIT workout. Workouts donât have to be long to be effective â sometimes just 15 minutes of really pushing yourself is just as good.
PHOTO: simonkr
Think positive.
If you wake up every day thinking, âUgh, I donât have time for a workout,â then guess what? Youâre probably not going to work out, because youâve basically already decided that itâs impossible. But if you wake up thinking of it as a challenge to tackle â âI might be busy, but I can definitely make time for this!â â then you will be more likely to make time for it. Positive thinking is so powerful, even if you donât realize it.
PHOTO: Luis Alvarez
Choose a gym thatâs close by.
Going to a gym that takes more than 20 minutes to get to isnât going to work out unless you have a lot of extra time in your day. Try to pick a gym really close to your home, nearby the office, or at least on your commute home. Itâs so much easier to stop in when youâre close by: You can head over there on your lunch hour, right when you wake up, or on your way home.
PHOTO: Westend61
Get creative!
Really donât have time to schedule in a sweat session? Start getting creative. If you need to clean the house, do a few squats every time you bend down to dust under the coffee table. Do some lunges as you pick up the kids' toys. Jog in place while waiting for pasta water to boil. Get the baby to take a nap by going for a run or walk around the block with the stroller. It might just be a few minutes, but that adds up â and it's definitely better than nothing!
PHOTO: Peathegee Inc
Make your commute your workout.
Itâs not possible for everyone, but many people are able to make their commute a workout instead of spending precious time driving or taking public transportation. Riding a bike or jogging to work is a great way to get your workout in while also getting where you need to go.
PHOTO: Westend61
Get the kids involved.
Want to exercise but also need to keep an eye on your little ones? Get them involved! If you have a small baby, go for long walks together or get a jogging stroller once theyâre old enough. If you have little kids, find a gym that has a babysitting room to care for them while you work out, or find a class that allows you to bring them along. You can even get them to work out with you by playing active games at home.
PHOTO: Westend61
Sacrifice your lunch hour.
You donât always need to ditch lunch hour â sometimes the break is needed â but if youâre having a particularly busy day, head to the gym to work out during lunch, then eat at your desk, if possible. Itâs nice to get that work out done while youâre still on the clock, and itâs a good way to re-energize so you can get through the rest of the afternoon.
PHOTO: xavierarnau
Take advantage of every situation.
Have to spend the afternoon at your kidâs soccer practice? Instead of just sitting in the stands watching, jog around the field a few times while they play. Dialing in to a conference call? If itâs just over the phone, work out while listening in. Spending your whole day at the office? Swap your chair for a stability ball. Little things like this can be effective if you work them in throughout the week.
PHOTO: Ella uzan
Invest in equipment.
If you never have time to hit the gym but you love working out on a treadmill, elliptical, stair master, or something similar, then consider investing in a workout machine. If itâs in your home, itâs hard to find reasons not to use it. Plus, you can work out while catching up on your favorite TV show, reading a book, studying, calling into a meeting, watching your kids⊠the list is kind of endless. It might come with a hefty price tag, but the investment could be well worth it in the end.
PHOTO: Sasha Shtepo
Sleep in your workout clothes.
Want to work out in the morning but having trouble getting motivated when youâre half asleep? Try sleeping in your workout clothes instead of pajamas so that when you wake up, youâre ready to roll out of bed and go!
PHOTO: JGI/Jamie Grill
Schedule your workout as if it were an appointment.
Instead of casually thinking, âOkay, Iâll work out when I can tomorrow,â or âIâll fit it in after work,â write your workout down and schedule it for a specific time as though it were any other appointment or meeting. That way, it feels like something you can't easily cancel at the last moment. The night before (or at the beginning of the week), look at your calendar and figure out what time works best to fit in a sweat session.
Write that down and then â this is key â plan everything else around it. Donât push it off to the side if something else comes up (unless itâs an emergency, of course). Treat it like something you canât just walk away from.
PHOTO: Poh Kim Yeoh / EyeEm
Start waking up a little bit earlier.
Studies show that working out in the morning is more beneficial, so why not try it out? If your schedule allows you to wake up an hour earlier every day, start doing it. It will be tough in the beginning, but as with anything else, you will eventually adjust. Working out first thing in the morning, before the kids are awake and before your to-do list begins to creep up on you, can feel refreshing and rejuvenating. Itâs an accomplishment before youâve even eaten breakfast, and then you donât need to worry about it the rest of the day.
PHOTO: Tassii
Make it something you genuinely enjoy.
Itâs much easier to make time for a workout when youâre doing something you truly love. For example: if you hate running, donât force yourself to go for a jog! You donât want to do it, so youâre more likely to come up with excuses as to why you shouldnât. Find a workout that you love, whether thatâs swimming, taking group classes, boxing, or simply walking, and stick to that. If itâs something youâre looking forward to, youâre way more likely to do it.
PHOTO: Martin Barraud
Buddy up!
Canât make it to the gym because your only spare hour of the day is being taken up by a hangout session with a friend? Ask your pal if you can make it an active one! You two donât necessarily need to hit the gym together â you can take a walk, go to a fun class together, or even take a brisk stroll through the mall while running errands. Who knows, your friend might need that push, too! The other advantage of working out with a friend is that scheduling something with them will make you less likely to cancel â they basically hold you accountable.
PHOTO: Peathegee Inc
Break a sweat at home.
Sometimes the act of getting ready and then driving to the gym can take up so much time that you skip the workout altogether. If thatâs the case, just do the exercise at home! If you find this happening often, ditch the expensive membership and buy some weights and other equipment you like for home. There are plenty of apps to download that offer great at-home workouts or you can even search them for free on YouTube. You may find it more manageable to fit exercise into your schedule when it doesnât require you to leave your house.
PHOTO: Zing Images
Do short, high-intensity workouts.
If youâre able to, you may want to consider switching things up when youâre really busy and opting for a short, high-intensity workout instead of something longer. So, instead of a 45-minute treadmill session, try a 15-minute HIIT workout. Workouts donât have to be long to be effective â sometimes just 15 minutes of really pushing yourself is just as good.
PHOTO: simonkr
Think positive.
If you wake up every day thinking, âUgh, I donât have time for a workout,â then guess what? Youâre probably not going to work out, because youâve basically already decided that itâs impossible. But if you wake up thinking of it as a challenge to tackle â âI might be busy, but I can definitely make time for this!â â then you will be more likely to make time for it. Positive thinking is so powerful, even if you donât realize it.
PHOTO: Luis Alvarez
Choose a gym thatâs close by.
Going to a gym that takes more than 20 minutes to get to isnât going to work out unless you have a lot of extra time in your day. Try to pick a gym really close to your home, nearby the office, or at least on your commute home. Itâs so much easier to stop in when youâre close by: You can head over there on your lunch hour, right when you wake up, or on your way home.
PHOTO: Westend61
Get creative!
Really donât have time to schedule in a sweat session? Start getting creative. If you need to clean the house, do a few squats every time you bend down to dust under the coffee table. Do some lunges as you pick up the kids' toys. Jog in place while waiting for pasta water to boil. Get the baby to take a nap by going for a run or walk around the block with the stroller. It might just be a few minutes, but that adds up â and it's definitely better than nothing!
PHOTO: Peathegee Inc
Make your commute your workout.
Itâs not possible for everyone, but many people are able to make their commute a workout instead of spending precious time driving or taking public transportation. Riding a bike or jogging to work is a great way to get your workout in while also getting where you need to go.
PHOTO: Westend61
Get the kids involved.
Want to exercise but also need to keep an eye on your little ones? Get them involved! If you have a small baby, go for long walks together or get a jogging stroller once theyâre old enough. If you have little kids, find a gym that has a babysitting room to care for them while you work out, or find a class that allows you to bring them along. You can even get them to work out with you by playing active games at home.
PHOTO: Westend61
Sacrifice your lunch hour.
You donât always need to ditch lunch hour â sometimes the break is needed â but if youâre having a particularly busy day, head to the gym to work out during lunch, then eat at your desk, if possible. Itâs nice to get that work out done while youâre still on the clock, and itâs a good way to re-energize so you can get through the rest of the afternoon.
PHOTO: xavierarnau
Take advantage of every situation.
Have to spend the afternoon at your kidâs soccer practice? Instead of just sitting in the stands watching, jog around the field a few times while they play. Dialing in to a conference call? If itâs just over the phone, work out while listening in. Spending your whole day at the office? Swap your chair for a stability ball. Little things like this can be effective if you work them in throughout the week.
PHOTO: Ella uzan
Invest in equipment.
If you never have time to hit the gym but you love working out on a treadmill, elliptical, stair master, or something similar, then consider investing in a workout machine. If itâs in your home, itâs hard to find reasons not to use it. Plus, you can work out while catching up on your favorite TV show, reading a book, studying, calling into a meeting, watching your kids⊠the list is kind of endless. It might come with a hefty price tag, but the investment could be well worth it in the end.
PHOTO: Sasha Shtepo
Sleep in your workout clothes.
Want to work out in the morning but having trouble getting motivated when youâre half asleep? Try sleeping in your workout clothes instead of pajamas so that when you wake up, youâre ready to roll out of bed and go!
PHOTO: JGI/Jamie Grill
It's not as impossible as you may think!
A single day goes by quickly. One minute youâre waking up with expectations of what youâre going to accomplish, and the next thing you know youâre climbing into bed at night thinking, âWell, thereâs always tomorrow.â When youâre really busy, certain things have to get pushed â and for many people, that means exercise can fall by the wayside.
But hereâs the thing: While you sometimes are genuinely too overloaded to get a workout in, most of the time you just need to try a little bit harder. Working out regularly is a commitment, and as such, it requires time and energy. You can definitely figure out a way to make exercise a daily habit, even with a hectic schedule, if you stop allowing your calendar to be your excuse. Hereâs how to make time for exercise even when it seems impossible.