Fact is, there are only 24 hours in a day. At least one-third of it we spend sleeping (some less than others) and for most adults another third is spent at work (some more than others). Then you're left with the amount of time you do have spent doing chores and errands. If you have kids, you're running them to school, ball practice, and dance class. On top of it all, this is all freaking stressful. After all that, you don't feel like doing anything else! Trust me. I get it!
If you're stuck in that paradigm, I can't do anything to convince you any different. You have to have an open mind to be persuaded. My argument is that it's not time that's the barrier, it's time management and fear. To understand how to get out of this conundrum here are some questions for you.
Do you spend too much time doing things that can wait or don't matter? One of the most common traps people get themselves caught into is thinking that everything is going to fall apart if they take time for themselves. In particular, I think about the work-a-holic. Seriously, do you need to be at work from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm? I'm sure that a couple of times a week you can spare coming in a little later if you can get your workout done in the morning. On the other hand, you may be able to leave a little early a couple of days a week to go exercise after work. What you have to keep in mind is that when you take time for yourself, you actually get more done with less stress and less time. Why? Because you are more focused and you have more energy, you get more done is less time (read The Making of the Corporate Athlete).
How much time do you spend watching TV and spend online?
The statistics are becoming worse as to the amount of time spent watching television. American adults spend on average 3 hours a day in front of the tube (children approximately 4 hours). Couple that with the amount time you spend online (for non-business reasons) playing on social networks, playing games, checking email, or just general surfing, you will find plenty of time to get into an exercise program.
Do you fear failure?
Often times, I discover that most people don't even get started because they fear failure. You say to yourself, "I don't want to spend all this time working out and not get results." What you have to keep in mind is that gets you no where. You also have to prioritize why you get into a fitness program. It's not just to look good, but to decrease stress, improve your health, et cetera. Make that your focus and the aesthetic results will come. Just like making a deposit into your savings account, with each exercise deposit you make, the greater the asset created. However, you have to be consistent. Stop shooting to win the great weight loss lottery or six-pack abs in 6 minutes. Instead, dedicate yourself to a lifetime goal of fitness and health.
Here's a Couple of Tips to Break the Time Barrier
Schedule your exercise session and stick to it!
As self-promotional as this may sound, this is the reason why the personal training industry has boomed in recent times. By scheduling (and investing) a session with a personal trainer greatly increases the likelihood that you will show up. It was just like how I paid my way through college. Whereas in high school I was barely passing, in college I graduated with honors. Why? I paid for it. By investing into it, you're going to show up to class.
Even if you don't have a trainer, you still need to schedule a time to exercise. Don't break away from the appointment unless it is a real emergency. Remember, you may have to let go of a thing or two to make it work.
Be Careful of All-or-Nothing
For you perfectionists out there, be mindful that no masterpiece is made over night. Also keep in mind that there are no quick fixes. Just like the lottery winner who wins a lot of money, they lose it all in short time. When you earn it, you learn it. When you go all or nothing, you will inevitably fail. You may get what you think are results, but you don't create the habit. If you don't create the habit, you will lose everything you thought you had gained. That is, if you gained anything at all. Most of the time when you go all-or-nothing, you get tired, over-stressed, and gain nothing. Once again, kind of like how you may play the lottery, but you never win.
It's a life law that nothing in life you want to achieve comes easy, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. At the end of the day, if you continue to make excuses about not having enough time you will never get what you want. What you have to do is just come up with a better strategy. Of course, sometimes you may need a little help in creating that strategy and sticking to it. Hint , hint!
written by:
Kelly Huggins, A-CPT
Exercise Science, B.S.
NPTI Instructor
Fitness Together - Fitness/Nutrition Coach
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