8 Methods to Exercise Daily Without Really Trying Don't be a gym rat for three months, then follow up with four months of sloth and busy-ness. Get at least some exercise every day.
By Andrew Cohen Edited by Dan Bova
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
If you ask most busy people why they don't exercise, by far the most common reason is that that they "don't have time." The effort of putting on workout clothes, going to the gym and showering is simply too onerous to fit in. Even the idea of a boring home workout or a 30-minute exercise tape can feel like too much of a commitment when we're late for work or for a date.
I personally admit to having roller-coaster exercise habits myself. I'll be a gym rat for three months, followed by four months of sloth and busy-ness. A few years ago, I finally realized how crappy I felt when I hadn't exercised, and I resolved to find some way to ensure I was at least getting some exercise every day -- even when I couldn't make it to the gym.
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The result was a series of small habits that I can work into my existing day without having to carve out any additional time for a workout. These habits have made it possible for me to exercise daily while still spending 60 to 80 hours per week running Brainscape.
1. Walk and talk.
Rather than doing your meetings over coffee, why don't you invite people to go for a walking meeting? Steve Jobs, Winston Churchill and many U.S. Presidents have been huge advocates of this practice for both health and camaraderie purposes. Even if you're just taking a phone call, use it as an opportunity to take a walk around the block or to your next destination.
2. Take the stairs.
If you regularly take the elevator less than four floors, then you are missing a huge opportunity for a free leg and core workout. Think of how many calories you could have burned if taking the stairs was just a part of your daily routine! (Bonus: The stairs are often faster.)
3. Exercise while waiting.
Waiting for the subway? Do some calf raises Afraid someone's watching? Do toe lifts -- they're more subtle and work your shins. Having 30 seconds to kill is a great cue to kick off a mini-exercise.
4. Exercise while brushing teeth.
You probably already spend one to three minutes brushing and flossing your teeth at least once a day. Why not brush your teeth while holding a deep squat, or while doing side leg lifts? These things are perfectly doable and add no additional time to your tooth-brushing activities. Simply tell yourself that you have no excuse for brushing your teeth without holding a deep squat. No matter how tired you are.
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5. Exercise while watching TV.
This doesn't just mean to put a treadmill in your living room -- although that does help for some people. You can do nearly any exercise while watching TV and even make a game out of it: "I'm allowed to watch another show if I do 50 pushups." You should be earning the right to watch that trashy reality show.
6. Exercise at your desk.
Rather than resigning yourself to the fact that sitting is slowly killing you, you can take advantage of your desk time by doing toe raises, arm circles or wrist stretches. You could even do squats or lunges while taking a break or listening to a webinar. Office job does not have to mean sedentary job.
7. Exercise at a traffic light.
When we're stuck at a light for a few minutes, our first instinct is often to check our phones. That's dangerous -- and in some places illegal. Why not keep some hand weights in the console, so you can work out your grip whenever you find yourself idling?
8. Actually carve out seven minutes of your day to exercise.
I've recently been using an excellent iPhone app called 7-Minute Workout, which has totally changed my life. Its simple, voice-guided power workouts make it easy to exercise in my bedroom using only my body and some basic props, and the app's game mechanics help make the experience fun rather than a chore. The best part is that, no matter how busy I am, I always have time for a seven-minute workout. I'm currently rocking a three-month daily workout streak and counting.
These small exercises may sound like a lot to remember, but you can just start one-at-a-time until each thing becomes a true habit. The trick is to associate exercises with mini-cues. Tell yourself that "If I take the elevator three floors or lazily brush my teeth without squatting, then I am missing a huge opportunity for growth." Once you have internalized these habits and associated them with a cue, you won't really have to think about exercising at all. It just happens.
Disclaimer: I am not a health professional and these are my opinions. And of course, if you do have time to exercise and are cleared by your doctor, then get to the damn gym and get a real workout in!
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