Get All Access for $5/mo

How to Exercise Despite Your Busy Schedule Finding time for exercise is tough; here's how you can do it.

By Entrepreneur Deals Edited by Jason Fell

Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you'll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

Alexander Redl

As a busy person, you're always looking for ways to be more efficient and more productive. There's not enough time in the day to get everything done that you'd like, which means you have to make sacrifices. Much of the time, that means exercise hits the chopping block.

That's unfortunate, because when you're missing out on exercise, you can't be your best self. Exercise is a crucial element of maintaining a healthy personal and professional life. When you exercise, oxygen and nutrients are delivered to your cardiovascular system, helping it to work more efficiently, giving you more energy to go about the rest of your day. Exercise has also been shown to cause the hippocampus to grow, improving your memory and brain functionality. The best benefit, however, is the simple reduction of stress. Aerobic exercise reduces levels of the body's stress hormones while stimulating endorphins to elevate your mood.

The benefits are numerous and can make a huge difference in your life. So how do you get them while maintaining your productivity?

Commuting by Bike

One of the easiest ways to get your exercise during the work day is to bike to and from work. Not only will you get the exercise you need but you can also bypass rush hour traffic while getting some much needed fresh air. Of course, remember to wear a helmet, bring a lock, and have a light on your bike for riding at night.

Taking Advantage of Your Lunch Break

You've got 30 minutes to an hour built into your workday for lunch but how long does it take to eat? After (or before) you've had your lunch, you can easily use that extra time to squeeze in a bit of low impact or high intensity training. Whether it's a little yoga, working with resistance bands, or something more aggressive like TRX suspension training.

Squeezing in a Post-Work Run

Rather than collapsing after a long day, you can give yourself a quick energy boost for the evening by taking a short run when you get home. It can be a great way to unwind with music on your arm as you run and get centered after work. If you're up to it, you can even track your progress and keep trying to improve over time.

Entrepreneur Deals

Entrepreneur Deals

Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you'll find useful. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Growing a Business

How to Build, Grow and Make Money With Ecommerce

To grow your online business, you need to develop a strategy and invest your time wisely. These actionable tips can attract customers and increase online revenue.

Living

70% of Small Business Owners Experience Monthly Burnout. Follow These 3 Rules to Avoid the Same Fate.

Here are three guidelines to help entrepreneurs achieve balance, growth and success in both their professional and personal endeavors.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Leadership

7 Telltale Signs of a Weak Leader

Whether a bully or a people pleaser who can't tell hard truths, poor leadership takes many forms.