Time: the one thing that we never seem to have enough of…
How do you see time? We see it as an investment.
Consider your time like a bank account. Like money, you want to see your time work for you so invest in the activities that enhance your health and well-being, including getting in enough time to go to the gym.
Just like your money, you can budget your time so that you get in a workout when you need to each week. Investing in your health can pay great dividends in your future and going to a gym or attending regular workout classes helps you build a healthier, more balanced future.
We’ve got some handy tips to help manage your time to ensure you get in the activities vital for your health and well-being.
- Write everything down:
To truly be mindful of your time, you need to know where the time actually goes. So for a week, record what you’re doing and for how long you do it. You can make this step as simple as you want to—from writing it on paper to making a simple spreadsheet — but force yourself to record your activity as soon as you’re finished.
- Mark and prioritise your ‘non-negotiables’:
We talk all about this. Starting with obvious activities, mark or highlight anything that you consider mandatory and then list the activities by priority. Of course, you need to prioritise working out, but mental health should be prioritised as well. So be sure to list other activities that positively impact your health, such as getting together with friends.
- Block off time for your needs:
Obviously, you need to block off time for work, family, and even those tasks that we may groan at, such as buying food, doing laundry, and cleaning. However, if you’ve noticed from your log that you tend to waste time procrastinating or allow these tasks to pile up and take more of your time, then be sure to block off time for as many tasks as possible to ensure you have a spot in your day dedicated to starting and finishing them.
- Plan your exercise ahead of time:
Nothing eats away at your time like agonising over decisions. Whether you’re unsure about what you should do each day, or you tend to change your mind often, scheduling exactly which workout you should do for the day helps you have at least a frame of reference. Even a five-minute decision reduces your workout time by five minutes.
- Maintain flexibility wherever you can:
Schedule your day in ways that allow for hiccups such as delays in traffic, meetings that run late, and other natural interruptions in the day. You can plan for the unexpected with some flexible scheduling tips. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you let things slip – this is totally natural and something that should be embraced. Slipping a little too much? Go back to your list and see what’s eating away at your schedule.
To conclude…
When you’re trying to fit in a regular, daily workout or expand your current health and fitness regimen, you need to take an honest look at your daily routine. Whether you commute to work, have a flexible schedule, or stay at home and manage your household, accounting for your daily activities and how long you spend at each can help you carve out time for fitness.
It’s important that you take a relaxed approach to time management; control what you can, don’t stress about the things that you can’t.
