10 Ways To Exercise When You’re Busy

10 Ways To Exercise When You’re Busy

Movement is a fundamental aspect of life. Movement is more than just ‘exercise’ and does not necessarily require effort, though it does require action. Movement affects everything, from circulation, to digestion, to metabolism, and immunity. With movement, our bodies regulate hormone activity, detoxify and perspire.

I get it, you have a busy lifestyle and before you know it, the day is over and you have missed yet another day to get some exercise. In the blink of an eye, a month has already passed without exercise, and so it goes.

The thing is, you have to consider movement as medicine and just like your daily vitamins, making it a priority amongst your busy schedule is necessary. Time doesn’t stop for anyone and if you won’t pay attention, you’ll be feeling stiff, weak, unfit, and low in energy. Who has time for an illness or an injury? Not you, that’s why you’re reading this!

So how on earth can I exercise when I’m busy?

Move, move, move!

Not everyone knows this, but even small doses of movement have a positive effect on your health by increasing your life expectancy, as well as preventing and treating disease.
All of our bodies’ systems rely on us moving more. Think of how amazing you feel after a workout and how much sharper you feel after exercising. Our mental health and cognitive function benefit greatly because of the increased circulation and the rush of endorphins.

Our human body is supported by our muscles and joints, and with added movement in our day, we keep our joints mobile, as well as our muscles strong and supple. If we maintain a sedentary lifestyle and don’t move our bodies, we can become stiff, weak, and prone to injuries. As we age, movement becomes even more necessary so that we remain self-sufficient and independent well into old age. As the saying goes “you’ll lose it if you don’t use it.” Think of a rusty car that’s collecting dust in the garage, left unused for years. Don’t become that car.

Movement helps maintain healthy blood pressure, a heart and lungs, balanced hormones, and a stable mood. Even our digestive system and gut microbiome rely on movement to maintain optimal health. The benefits are too great to ignore.

So how do you get movement into your day if you lead a busy life?

Here are 10 of my favourite ways to exercise more when you’re busy:

1. Park your car further away from the entrance of where you are going. This is a simple way to increase your step count, aim for 10,000 steps daily. 

2. Stop reading this for a minute and do 10 star jumps, 10 squats, 10 push-ups and 10 mountain climbers for 4 minutes each day. Jam to your favourite song while doing this!

3. While heating something in the microwave, do push-ups on the bench and tricep dips.

4. Do 5 minutes of stretching while you’re watching TV.

5. Take the stairs when you have a choice.

6. For every 20 minutes you scroll on your phone, put it down and do 10 lunges or 5 burpees.

7. Instead of just a lunch date, go for a walk first.

8. Clean your house, mow the lawn, and complete the chores. House work is great incidental movement!

9. Play with your kids or your friends’ kids, they love being active.

10. Get up 30 minutes earlier and go for a walk, you’ll feel accomplished after.

These small simple activities, if done consistently, will surely add up and have huge benefits in the long run. Try this! Today, you can try documenting how you feel in the morning, how you rate your energy level mid-day, and how you feel in the evening. Try to apply the small movement changes for 30 days along with your documenting, and then compare your journal notes at the end of the 30 days, I promise it will change your life for the better!