A career, a social life, a family calendar, and a fitness routine? Trying to balance it all can truly feel exhausting.
There are so many hurdles, mental and physical, that can keep you from establishing a regular exercise schedule, especially when many other priorities have to come first. But the new year offers a solid opportunity to reflect on what you’re doing to take care of yourself and consider how you can ensure you stay healthy, strong, and at your best.
If you’re struggling with committing to fitness, you’re not alone. Here are some of the most pervasive mental and practical blocks that keep women from achieving a regular fitness routine — and what you can do about them.
I Don’t Have Time to Work Out
This barrier is often more than just mental. Whether you’re juggling multiple jobs, balancing work and childcare, or just trying to keep up the tenuous life balance you’ve struck, you may be facing a reality where you just don’t have time to spend an hour in the gym every day.
Here are a few tips for working some movement into your busy schedule:
- First, go through your weekly schedule and see if you can find a few 30-minute slots where you could fit in some activity. You may be surprised to find some windows here and there. If you do find a few 30-minute pockets, be intentional about blocking them off for yourself each week. Don’t worry about that tight timeline — a super-effective circuit workout can train your whole body in just 20 minutes.
- Don’t get overwhelmed by going too big. Yes, the CDC recommends 150 minutes of moderately intense physical activity each week, but yes, you can also start small. If you have a 10-minute window every other day when you can fit in a light ab circuit or mobility routine, take that opportunity.
- Consider how you can make your daily schedule more active. Can you run the stairs at work during lunch? Can you switch to a standing or walking desk so you can spend some time out of your chair while you work? Can you do a light exercise routine or use a walking pad while you watch TV in the evening?
I Don’t Have a Workout Buddy
Sure, some people like to clear their heads and exercise alone, but others find that a workout buddy or two can make the gym less intimidating, keep them on track, and give them someone to help celebrate their wins. If you’ve asked friends and family to exercise with you and come up empty, here are some options for finding a fitness-minded community:
- Use a platform like Meetup to seek people near you who are also interested in finding workout buddies.
- Don’t underestimate the power of a local studio, class, or fitness group you’re interested in. Clubs are especially handy tools for folks interested in running or walking since there are run groups tailored to everyone from active moms to newbies nervous about judgment. Try fitness classes and clubs that pique your interest, and don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation.
- If you just need the unseen presence of other people to provide accountability and community, you can join a live fitness class online. Peloton has become pretty ubiquitous in the live virtual class space, but there are actually lots of live-streaming fitness class options to pick from.
Photo: zinkevych via 123RF
I Don’t Have the Energy to Work Out
Whether you’re working long hours or exhausted from parenting (or both), fatigue can be an intense hurdle between you and your workout. Here are a few tips for navigating fitness while you’re wiped out:
- You don’t need to be a morning person to work out. In fact, if you’re already struggling with fatigue, be flexible with yourself and try to plan your workouts for the times of day when you know you have the most energy.
- While this fact may not help you start a fitness routine, it may help you keep going to know that working out regularly will begin to improve several facets of your energy and mood. A regular workout routine can boost the brain chemicals that make you feel happy and relaxed, build your endurance to help you navigate everyday activities more efficiently, and help you sleep more deeply.
Even when you’re low on energy and short on time, you deserve the physical, mental, and practical benefits that come from breaking down your barriers and pursuing a regular fitness routine in the new year.