You are gaining too much weight and looking like the Pillsbury dough boy. You find that the answer to your weight problem is to work out. But you do not have time. What should you do?
The following is a list of eight (8) ways to make time for yourself so that you can work out.
Trim down your task list. Trying to do too many things at once is a spot-on way to prevent you from achieving your weight loss goals. Instead of tackling too many tasks in one day, target only five key items that you need to accomplish. Fit your task list on a large Post-it note. Whatever does not fit goes on the next day.
Maximize your time on weekends. Concentrate on working out on both days of the weekend when your schedule is more flexible. For instance, shoot for 30 minutes of a fun outdoor activity such as mountain biking or rollerblading every day. Then, try to sneak in one or two workouts during the week.
Quit talking on the phone. With cell phone contracts having unlimited minutes come unlimited opportunities to catch up with old high school chums. Those long hours of talk time can absorb your valuable time from your day that could be better spent sweating off the pounds. If you still can not keep yourself away from the phone, bring it with you when you walk around the block in your neighborhood.
Order takeout food. Dinner time can also eat up valuable time for many people. Order takeout food one night a week. Just do not indulge in junk food such as burgers and fries. Order vegetable pizza, bean burritos, or turkey sandwiches.
Get rid of time wasting activities. For many people, it is the small tasks on our list that end up eating our valuable time and preventing us from making time to exercise. These small time wasters seem so small but when added up can cost us precious time. Identify all your time wasting activities and try to eliminate a minimum of one per day. Avoid things that other people ask you to do such as baking bread for the school's bake sale.
Sleep in early, and get up early. Studies show that people who make the time to work out in the morning are most likely to stick with their exercise program. In order to achieve this, plan on going to bed 30 minutes earlier than your normal bedtime and set your alarm clock in the morning 30 minutes earlier than your normal wake time. You will still get the same amount of rest, but you will be able to concentrate those extra morning minutes to your exercise plan.
Minimize your e-mail time. If you work at a computer all day, constantly checking your e-mail can but a dent on your plans on getting some exercise. It prevents you from finishing your tasks and staying focused. Plan on checking your e-mail no more than five times a day. By doing so, you can squeeze out 15 minutes for a brisk walk during your lunch hour.
Have a plan. You will be more likely to make time for exercise if you have a solid plan. Activities that we plan for are much more likely to occur than those we just wish for. Therefore, assign a time for exercise such as attending a yoga class, spinning class, doing cardio kickboxing. Schedule your workout time in advance so that you will be more likely to stick with it to make it happen.