If you have days (or weeks, or maybe months) where the idea of staying active when you’ve got so many other things to do is just not something you even want to consider, you’re not alone. After all, when we’re busy, getting fit and doing exercise really doesn’t come into it – even if we want to and events is a partnered post. when we know we need to, it’s just not going to happen either because we’re too tired or we’ve run out of time.
But what if you were to learn that being active doesn’t have to mean hours in the gym? It doesn’t have to mean sacrificing all your free time. It doesn’t even have to be unpleasant (and that can definitely be a surprise to a lot of people!). In fact, being active might be easier than you think, even if you are really busy, and with that in mind, keep reading to find out how to stay active while managing a busy life. 
Rethink What Active Actually Means
What comes to mind when you think of the word ‘active’? If it’s running around getting out of breath, lifting heavy weight, or committing to a sport that you have to play every week so you don’t let the team down, it’s no wonder that you’re not all that keen to do it. Who has time for all that? And even if you do have time, would you enjoy it?
There are definitely people who love that kind of exercise, and they’ll make time for it no matter what, but if you’re not one of them, the motivation isn’t going to be there, and you’ll find other things to do instead, meaning you don’t have time to stay active, and that’s going to impact your health and even your happiness levels.
So it could be time to think about what active means and reimagine it. If you can’t commit to hardcore workout programs or joining a gym, what about taking the stairs? Dancing in the kitchen while you’re making dinner? Walking instead of driving? Getting a standing desk and marching on the spot at work? Going for a walk to listen to your favorite podcast instead of sitting down to do it? These are just a handful of examples, but as you can see, there are plenty of ideas you can try out.
The fact is that movement is movement, and the key to getting it done is finding ways to fit it into your day in a natural way – so natural that you don’t even think about it at times, you just do it. Those small bursts of activity can really add up over time, and you’ll soon find you’re getting fitter and healthier without as much effort as you thought.
Listen To Your Body
This idea is a particularly important one because it’s going to help you work out what’s right for you and what’s going to help you stay active, as well as teach you what to stay away from in the future (the things that end up being a waste of time because you don’t like them or can’t physically do them, for example). Plus, if you’re going through any of life’s changes, like managing menopause and weight loss, it’s even more important – you’ve potentially got to change how you’ve been doing things to account for hormonal changes, lower energy levels, muscle tone changes, and longer recovery times. It’s wise to learn as much as you can about this stage of life and how to ensure you stay healthy, and listening to your body and how you’re really feeling is sure to help – it’s a good place to start while you’re readjusting.
Even if you’re not going through any changes, you should still do what works for your body – and that might be different to what works for someone else. The best thing to do is focus on activities that feel good and that also give you the results you’re looking for. For example, strength training can help you maintain muscle, whereas yoga or stretching is good for flexibility and reducing stress. Plus don’t forget your rest days because they’re absolutely essential for staying consistent and preventing burnout, meaning you’ll see better results even if you take a break compared to when you try to push yourself too hard.
Make It Social
Exercise doesn’t have to be a solo thing, and if you’d rather be around other people, what about looking for a class to join? There are loads of different types you can try, meaning you can pick something that works for you and that your body will be happy with, rather than having to opt for something you don’t like but that gives you a chance to be around other people. Be picky and choose wisely, and you’ll do a lot better (and hopefully you’ll enjoy the experience).
If you’d rather not join a formal class – they can sometimes be expensive, and they might not work with your schedule – what about meeting up with a friend for a walk or a jog? Or how about playing a game or tennis or badminton with them? Or – and this idea can be surprising, but it’s a really good one – go outside with your kids and play with them. Just running around and playing chase is great exercise, and it gives you a chance to spend some time bonding with your little ones, so what could be better?
What’s great about this idea is that not only aren’t you alone when you’re exercising, which can be a big negative for some people and make it hard for them to be motivated, but you’ll also have at least one person to be accountable to – if you say you’re going to exercise with a friend, you’ve got to show up and do it (and they’ll have to do the same), so there’s a lot more chance of getting into good habits and a good routine.
Use Technology To Your Advantage
A lot of the time, it’s not the activity itself that’s the problem, and it’s not even the time you’ve got, no matter how busy you are – it’s the motivation. If you’re not someone who enjoys exercise and working out too much, persuading yourself to get started when you could just not is a lot of hard work. True, very often once you do get started you’ll find you get into it and enjoy it, so you’ll complete whatever task you set yourself, but if you find it hard to actually get going and often don’t, none of that’s going to matter.
We’ve discussed a few different ways to get motivated already in this list, but another that might be helpful is technology – that can work wonders and really help you get started, after which your body and the feel-good hormones it produces will take over to get you to the (possibly literal) finish line. We’re talking about things like fitness apps, smartwatches, online workout programs, and so on – all of which can help you track your progress, find good routines, and basically stay inspired to keep moving forward.
You don’t have to spend a lot or get too technical if that’s not really your thing, making it even better. You could just set a reminder on your phone to move every hour, and just that small thing can make a huge difference. All you’d have to do is a few quick stretches or a walk around the office (although going outside is the best option), and you can get fitter – it’s a slow and steady option that does get results.
Set Realistic Goals
You’re probably not training for the Olympics (if you were, you’d be one hundred percent dedicated to your sport, you wouldn’t have anything else to do, and you’d have all the motivation you need!), and that’s perfectly okay. You really don’t have to be aiming for anything big. You do, however, have to aim for something, and setting goals is vital if you’re going to see results.
However, it’s important to remember that those goals have to be realistic ones, and it’s a good idea to start not just realistically, but small too. If you make some small, realistic, achievable goals that fit into your current routine, they won’t feel like so much of a burden, and you’ll be able to complete the things on your to do list, which will make you feel fantastic.
So what small goals are we talking about? One idea is to walk fifty more steps each day compared to the day before. Or fitting in a 10-minute workout routine between getting home from work (or finishing work if you work from home) and starting your evening routine. Do that once a week to start with, then boost it to twice, three times, and so on. In no time at all, you’ll be exercising for 10 minutes a day, after which you can start exercising for 15 minutes, and so on until you’re really getting somewhere.
Whatever it is you do, the fact that you’re doing it is what counts, and it’s sure to be a step forward, no matter how small it seems.