We all live busy lives and this time of year is no exception. As much as we promise to get to the gyms 3 times per week – or set it as our New Year’s resolution – it just never seems to happen. The thing to remember is that it happens to us all and it can be very demotivating.
In order to keep on track with your fitness here are a few quick fixes that you can deploy when life gets in the way.
1. Make the most out of your lunch breaks
If getting to the gym is just not happening then use your lunch break wisely. Whether you have 30 minutes on an hour, there are plenty of ways to use this time to your advantage. If you’re fortunate enough to work near a gym (or have on-site fitness facilities) then why not nip in for a short workout or why not attend a class or go for a swim.
Not near a gym? Head out to the nearest park for a workout or go for a run / walk.
In addition, getting out of the office is a must. It gives you a chance to clear your head of anything work related and gives you some time in the day to focus on you.
2. Watch what you eat
Healthy eating; how does that work out at the office? Being at work and making healthy food choices are not always the best of friends. Most people eat lunch on the go at their desk or on their way to a meeting, so you just grab whatever is convenient. Add in various treats that someone has brought in, then your healthy eating plan is bound to fly out the window.
Don’t sabotage yourself. If you know that exercise is not going to be part of your day then these are key days to make the right food choices for your goals. Stick with lean meats, vegetables, fruits and nuts. It’s just as quick and easy to buy some lean chicken and vegetables / salads from the supermarket as it is to fill up on processed junk.
3. Get back to exercise basics
So you’re at home, watching your favourite programme and the adverts come on. What do you do? I bet most of you do nothing or make a cup of tea.
Next time try this: during the ad-break perform 20 squats, 20 press-ups and 20 crunches. Repeat for every ad-break in a one-hour programme. Feel free to change the exercises: lunges and stair runs are a great choice!
4. Make-up day……it’s what weekends are for
You’ve managed to get to the end of the week and not worked out as much as you’d have like (if at all). It’s bugging you; you had your workouts planned but it’s not gone to plan.
Use your weekend to get a workout in. Most gyms are open over the weekend and they are quieter than week days, so you can avoid all that waiting around for equipment. Don’t want to go to the gym? Why not dust off the bike in the garage, go for a long walk with the family, get the tennis rackets out, go swimming, try a brand new activity……the choices are endless and you might just find that you enjoy it!
5. Don’t beat yourself up
You don’t have to tell me how annoying it is when you miss a workout but remember, it’s not the end of the world. If you skip a day, don’t worry; just plan another time to get a workout in or work that much harder the next time you’re in the gym.