I want to switch gears a little bit and instead of focusing on a particular exercise, we’ll look at a major issue that many of us encounter: how to keep exercise a priority in our busy lives. This is one of the most common issues I hear from my clients, and who can’t relate? You wake up early, go to work all day, get home and make dinner; the couch is oh so tempting at this point.

Here are my top tools to try to fight the urge to hit the couch after a long day before getting your exercise in.

  1. Remember the benefits. Exercise helps combat health conditions like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, depression, and certain types of cancel and arthritis. It helps to improve your mood. It gives you more energy. Take some time to think about your health and how beneficial it will be to take just 30 minutes to gain these benefits.
  2. Put it into perspective. Remember that a one hour workout is only about 5% of your day. That is totally manageable.
  3. Schedule exercise like you would anything else. This is something I do personally and it keeps me on track like nothing else. It is so simple to look at your calendar, see where you have time and schedule it in just like your doctor appointment or haircut. This also helps to hold you accountable.
  4. Find something you like. If you dread exercise you will find any excuse to get out of it. Try something different until you find something that you enjoy or at least feel good about doing. If you enjoy the work out and are getting a lot out of it, you will maintain motivation and the excuses will fade into the distant past!
  5. Try working out in groups. This would be as simple as walking with a friend or joining in on a boot camp. At Chapel Hill Training, we offer small group boot camps that offer a great workout and the motivation and social aspect of working in a group.

I hope these tips can help you work around your schedule to make exercise a priority. It’s your body and you only get one! Whatever your motivation, keep up the good work!