In November, I transitioned from a life in leggings to a corporate desk job in real estate in Midtown Manhattan. I couldn’t be happier with my decision, but unfortunately this gal’s fitness routine changed drastically. While working at SoulCycle and Lululemon for the past two and a half years, daily sweat sessions were encouraged before and after shifts (and they were usually free which is always great!). Now, on the days I leave work at a reasonable hour, I’m usually exhausted or I have already scheduled in some plans with friends or the boyfriend. It’s truly been a struggle to find a work/life balance while still finding time to exercise these last few months. Throw in life’s random, crazy events like moving and a death in the family, and exercise is the last thing on my mind.
Here are my tips on fitting fitness into a busy schedule:
Plan ahead. Scheduling workouts on your calendar as you would an important meeting is key for those who are busy, busy, busy. Personally, I like to write my workouts in funky, aquamarine ink to make it more fun in my day planner. Seeing my workouts scheduled helps me to plan ahead.
Phone A Friend. Workouts with friends are the new dinners out! It’s now more hip to meet a girlfriend for a sweat sesh and green juices than it is to plan a dinner date together. It’s also a lot healthier and probably less expensive too! I find that workouts with friends are my favorite ways to sweat because not only is it great to catch up with my girls, but it also gives me more incentive to actually make it to the gym. Plus, it’s a time saver as your daily workout and Girls Night Out are one in the same!
Keep It Simple. Have you spent numerous hours researching local gym memberships, debated joining ClassPass for months, and kept up-to-date on all of the latest fitness boutique studios around your city just to be so overwhelmed that you haven’t actually committed to anything? I definitely have! The variety of workouts available these days is fantastic, but having so many options can be a little stressful at times. If you want a great workout without the hassle, keep it simple! Check out the abundance of fitness videos and printouts available online or better yet – grab a copy of the new cheerFIT DVD for a great at-home workout! I find that I’m more likely to complete a workout that doesn’t seem like a huge production. My favorites are at-home workout videos and running around my neighborhood.
Fit It In. Honestly, there are some days when I feel so busy and exhausted that I just try to fit in extra movement whenever possible. I’ve been known to get off at an earlier subway stop to enjoy a nice walk home after work. While this might be extreme for some people, there are little things everyone can do. Take regular walking and stretch breaks at work, so you aren’t constantly sitting at a desk all day. Take the stairs. Park farther from the store entrance to get in some extra steps. Though not as ideal as a true sweat sesh, the little things are better than nothing.
HIIT Is The New Black. HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) sessions are another popular workout on the rise, and they just so happen to be great for those short on time. I enjoy them because they are quick and effective. I usually do them in the morning before work when there isn’t enough time to enjoy a nice, long run. HIIT workouts are a great way to squeeze cardio into a busy day.
Don’t Sweat It. It’s easy to beat yourself up over not fitting a workout in. The feeling I get when I see a missed workout scheduled in aquamarine in my day planner is the worst, but sometimes it’s inevitable. I’ve been practicing not beating myself up because of it. First, I try to fit it in later in the week if possible. If I can’t then I try to do better the next day. At the end of the day, all we can do is our best.
Stay fit and fabulous,
Alec
Alec
Alec Dadisman participated in soccer, gymnastics, dance, and cheerleading while growing up in the South. During graduate school, she discovered a passion for running and has been traveling all over the country for races since 2009. Though this Southern Belle enjoys tailgating at football games and hiking along beautiful trails, she also loves fast-paced city life. In 2012, without any friends or a job waiting for her, she packed up her car and moved up North! She currently resides on the Upper West Side in her dream apartment with her two roommates and her Australian Shepherd/Lab mix, Lily. It’s in New York City that Alec rediscovered her old love of cheerleading after attending a cheerFIT bootcamp along the Hudson River. She loves cheerFIT because it helps improve her flexibility and tones her body. Plus, it’s great for cross-training while preparing for races! When she isn’t running around Central Park or sweating like crazy at a cheerFIT bootcamp, you can find her binge watching Netflix shows or blogging on her lifestyle blog, PopFitLife.