Achieving a Balance Between Working and Working Out

How many times do you sit in the office looking at your computer, wishing you were at the gym or outside doing something active? You just want to exercise a little bit more, but you work a lot and you don’t feel like sacrificing the time you spend with your family for exercise.

Anyone who has tried to keep up with the routine of going to work, staying healthy and exercising regularly has probably told you that an extra effort is required, whether it's food-related (which requires you to prepare your meals carefully) or going to the gym. When your time is precious and you have other responsibilities besides your job, such as taking care of your children or a part-time job, it may seem like making time for regular exercise is an impossible mission.

Although these excuses may seem “decent,” let’s face it - fitness halls open their doors before sunrise and close shortly before midnight. They make it easy for us to get to the gym to exercise if we really want to. And high-tech fitness machines are now able to create an effective exercise routine which will last no more than 20 minutes, while your mobile applications can tell you when, what and how to eat.

With a little bit of “law and order” in your hectic life, you will be able to combine a demanding job and/or home life with a healthy lifestyle, so you don’t have to eat in a crazy rush or skip the gym. Although we all know that eating and exercising play a crucial role in maintaining our health, we always tend to put our work first. Most of us, without realizing it, end up sacrificing our entire well-being in the favor of our career, instead of putting our lives in order and establishing a clear schedule. Exercising regularly will only make you healthier, both mentally and physically, which will help you at work and will certainly help you be a more active parent (while also passing on healthy exercise habits to your children). Here are a few tips to make regular exercise easier:

Go to the gym or exercise during your lunch break

Do you always use lack of time as an excuse for skipping the gym? Instead of using your lunch break to eat, why not opt for a quick work-out and grab a healthy, filling snack at some point during your work day? The secret is to find a gym close to your place of work. Even if you cannot go every single day, if you do this 2 or 3 times a week you'll feel great and you'll see results.

If you can't make it to the gym during your workday, or you're not "into the gym thing," you can always choose any kind of activity that motivates you: swimming, walking, jogging, Zumba, yoga, pilates... you get the idea. Choose an activity that matches your personality and schedule; maybe even pair up with a co-worker or two.

Wake up earlier

It's not easy to get up early, but waking up 30 minutes earlier can really make a difference. Stretching in the morning or doing a few exercises in your home (jumping jacks, push-ups, squats, running in place, sit-ups), or even going for a run in the morning, could be what your body has been craving for so long (and you don't even know it).

Keep in mind:

• Waking up earlier can also turn you into a more productive person overall.
• The first step is to find the type of physical exercise you enjoy most.
• Focus on the positive feelings you experience during and after working out or exercising; this will help perpetuate this good habit.
• Choose the time of the day that works best for you. No matter if it’s in the morning, during the day or evening, it’s all about being consistent! We are circadian beings, and the best way to create a habit is to create a routine through which the brain learns to put it into practice at certain times of the day.
• Once you implement some or all these things, results will show up sooner than you think; which will motivate you to do even more.