There’s a lot to do every day, isn’t there? It’s mostly work, if we’re honest, but then we also have to factor in making meals, shopping (for food or anything else), making sure we leave time for our hobbies (because we’re always told they’re so important) and our families (for the same reason), and that’s all great, but the problem is that by the time we’ve done all that, when on earth are we going to have any time to exercise? 

That’s why a lot of people don’t exercise. It’s the last thing on their to-do list, and because that list is a long one, they just skip exercise so they can do everything else. You may well do exactly that yourself.

But what if we said there’s always time to be healthy, no matter how busy you are? You might not believe us at first, but it’s true, and here are some of the ways it can be done. Of course, these ideas are going to work for some and not others, but there should be enough of them to give you an idea of what to do and perhaps even come up with some plans of your own. With that in mind, keep reading to find out more. 

Rethink Your Daily Routine

There’s a big obstacle in the way of you having that healthy lifestyle you’re looking for, and that’s the belief that you don’t have enough time. The main reason behind that idea (other than the fact that we’re all so busy, as we mentioned above – another thing that’s usually unnecessary when you really think about it) is that there seems to be a myth about how long exercise should take and that you have to invest hours and hours of your time in it. And not just exercise either; we’re talking about everything that combines to create a healthy lifestyle, like meal prep, getting enough sleep, relaxation, and other wellness activities. 

Well, this doesn’t have to be the case, and if you look at your schedule as not something that’s set in stone but as something that’s actually flexible (even a little bit of flexibility is better than nothing), you should be able to find a few small packets of time to do what needs to be done.

It could mean waking up 15 minutes earlier to meditate, using your lunch break for a quick walk, or perhaps adding some stretching exercises to your evening routine, but whatever it is, it doesn’t have to take long, and it doesn’t have to mess up your routine (too much). In fact, if you can include it without it having any impact at all, that’s even better, so it’s definitely worth thinking about. 

Get Involved With Mirco-Workouts

When we think about exercise, we often think about long, hard sessions at the gym or running for hours or perhaps playing sports (which takes time not just to play, but to practice and get ready too). And although these things can be fine, and they can actually be great for your health, not everyone is going to have the time or, if we’re honest, the inclination to do them, and that’s another reason why exercise often gets left behind when it comes to wellness and health.

The good news is that these long workouts aren’t the only way to stay fit (and get fit in the first place, come to that) because micro-workouts, which are becoming ever-more popular, are an ideal way to do your exercise without losing too much time as a result. As the name suggests, a micro-workout is a short burst of activity, sometimes only five or ten minutes long, but although they’re short, they can be just as effective as longer exercise sessions if you do them a few times a day and ensure you get your heart rate up.

Sneak In Exercise Throughout The Day

As we’ve seen, you really don’t need a lot of time to do exercise, but if even the idea of adding some micro-workouts to your day doesn’t appeal, don’t worry – you’ve still got options, and you can probably sneak in a decent amount of exercise throughout the day if you need to (and you really should try – don’t forget that physical exercise is good for your mental health as well as your physical health, and it can help reduce your stress levels among other positive things). 

The key is to ‘sneak’ in exercise throughout the day, and always be on the lookout for opportunities to exercise. What do we mean? It’s quite simple – you could take the stairs rather than the elevator, or walk to work instead of driving (or cycle if it’s too far to walk), for example. There are so many chances for you to do a quick burst of exercise at various points in the day, and it all adds up, so even if you don’t feel as though you’re doing much, you might be doing precisely what you need to do. 

Do Some Puzzles

Now although physical exercise is vital, it’s not the only thing you need to think about, and you need to take care of your brain health as well – but once again, finding the time to do it can often seem like a challenge at best and impossible at worst. Yet what if you had a few minutes to spare on your journey to work or when you’re waiting to pick the kids up from an activity, or even just before you go to bed when you’re not quite ready to sleep? Well, then you could quite easily do a puzzle or two and make sure your brain gets the same chance of a workout as the rest of you.

Puzzles come in a wide range of forms, from jigsaws to crosswords to word games and, of course, many people’s favorite, sudoku, to name just a few. You can do some with a simple pen and paper, some with cards, some online and via your phone, and so on, so there’s plenty of choice as to what you do and how you do it. Once you’ve found the way you like best, try to do a puzzle a day (like we said, it only has to take a couple of minutes, and it could even take the place of scrolling through social media, which isn’t a bad idea) to keep your brain sharp. 

Try Smart Snacking

Something we all have to do every day is eat – it can be tempting to skip meals, but that’s not a good idea as it usually means we just eat more the next time we do eat something, and we’ll also be tempted to snack; it’s just not worth it. 

Speaking of snacking, although you might think it’s something that has to be avoided because we all need to eat three good meals a day and nothing more, that’s not necessarily the case. Studies have shown that having smaller ‘main’ meals and adding snacks in between them so we end up eating six times a day (breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack) is far better for our metabolism, energy levels, and overall health. 

So snacking isn’t a terrible idea, as long as you choose healthy snacks – smart snacking, in other words. And always have these healthy snacks nearby, in a drawer at your desk, in your bag, or anywhere else you need them – when your body tells you it’s hungry, you need to listen, and if you’ve got smart, healthy snacks you can get to quickly, you can deal with that hunger in a safe and healthy way without resorting to sugary, processed foods. 

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