The Balancing Act

I know what you’re going to say.

I’m at work all day, so I don’t have the time. I’m looking after my kids, so I don’t have the time. I’m just so tired from everything that I don’t have the motivation, nor the time.

How can I incorporate exercise into my crazy, tight schedule?

Start small.

As little as 15 minutes of light activity a day can improve your health (and your life expectancy).

Exercise can be a silver bullet for a large swath of life’s problems. In addition to improving mood and shedding extra pounds, being physically active on a regular basis helps prevent and manage a wide range of health problems, including stroke, type two diabetes, depression (which we covered in-depth last week) – and the list goes on and on.

Several 10-minute workouts spread across a week are just as effective as a longer duration workout – as long as they add up to 150 minutes of physical activity a week.

So instead of changing your schedule abruptly, try incorporating small bits of exercise throughout your busy workday.

Start A Morning Routine

Beginning your day with a little bit of movement is an excellent way to wake up the body and mind, as well as get the juices flowing.

So, what can you do?

• Morning stretches. Experts emphasise that stretching in the morning improves posture, relieves pain and aches in your body, as well as increases body flow.

• Short bodyweight workouts. Doing energizing movements like jumping jacks or bicycles works as a dynamic stretch for the body, as well as elevate the heart rate.

• Morning yoga. A great choice for those who need to find their Zen, as well as deal with stressful deadlines. Practicing yoga in the morning helps to maintain a calm mind and set a tone for the day.

Exercise at the End of the Workday

It can be as little as 15-minutes.

• Aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, jogging, biking, dancing, tennis, swimming.

• Lower-intensity exercise, such as yoga, also shows potential benefits when it comes to mood and reduces anxiety.

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