2 Birds, 1 Stone

Getting fit is one of the most common New Year’s Resolutions, year after year. And given than approximately 80% of people abandon their resolutions by February each year, that’s no surprise.

In a previous post I talked about how to make resolutions stick (TLDR: turn it into a goal with a specific action plan). But even then, we sometimes fail, because we don’t stick to the plan. And why don’t we stick to the plan? One all-too-common reason (or excuse!) is a lack of time.

Since, on first glance, exercise does take time, and because I don’t want you to be one of the aforementioned 80%, I want to share with you some ways that you can exercise while doing things you are already doing.

Run Your Errands, Literally

  • Run to the store, walk back with your stuff. (Or run, if you brought a backpack and your stuff’s not too heavy.)

Take Exercise Breaks

  • Breaks are essential to productivity anyway, so instead of spending 10 minutes scrolling through Twitter, every couple of hours, take 5 minutes to walk around the block, do 25 jumping jacks, or 50 sit-ups.

Combine Exercise with Leisure

  • Want to know how to feel better about that Netflix binge you’re looking forward to later? Do resistance exercises while watching TV at home.

  • Need to finish that book for book club or can’t wait to listen to your podcasts? Listen to audio while going for a run, a walk or riding an exercise bike.

Combine Exercise with Learning

  • Studying for a big test? Read while on the exercise bike.

  • Take an online course while riding an exercise bike.

Exercise on Your Commute

  • If you usually take public transit to work, you can run home from work. (This sounds logistically difficult, but here’s how you do it: Get a cheap running backpack to carry your purse or wallet/keys home. Bring running clothes to work and change into them right before you leave; leave the work clothes at work. On Fridays, skip the run and bring home the big bag of work clothes. Can you tell I’ve done this before ?? :) )

  • Bike or walk to and from work.

Exercise During Your Kid’s Soccer Practice

  • Not excited to sit through yet another soccer practice? Bring your running shoes and do laps around the field.

Simply Walk

  • If you are going somewhere that is less than 1.5 miles away, walking is often a wash in terms of time vs. getting an Uber or Lyft.

Take the Stairs

  • Come on, you knew that one was coming!

PlanningAlexis Haselbergerexercise, New Year's ResolutionsComment