The biggest driver for success in health and fitness is the ability to be consistent and practice good habits over long periods of time. Therefore, the most important thing you can do is to get yourself into a routine that is sustainable over time. This routine might look different to someone else’s, but the key is that it fits in with your life and exercising becomes a habit as much as brushing your teeth! A common excuse for people however, is that they don’t have time for the gym or for exercise in the general.
Firstly, I’m not going to say it’s easy! That would be pretty patronising as someone who owns a gym and doesn’t have children. However, over the years I have seen wonderful example of friends and clients who have managed to achieve their fitness goals with great success, despite busy work and family commitments.
The key is to not bite off more than you can chew, especially initially when trying to build the routine. Aim big with your goals, but start off small with your actions. Can you start by improving your step count and by building a habit of 10,000 steps a day? Could you squeeze in a fitness class at your local gym once or twice a week? Don’t think that you have to be in the gym 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. Build a small routine firstly, and build from there if you can. Gym sessions do not need to be 2 hours or even an hour long! A great long term routine could even be 2x 30 minute gym sessions per week and a healthy amount of walking. Over a long period of time, that is a lot of training for not a great deal of time out of each week!
A great mindset you can get into is to treat your gym sessions or your walks as non-negotiable appointments. Block off specific times in your calendar, just as you would for meetings or doctor’s visits. This helps shift your mindset from “I’ll go if I have time” to “I’m committed to this time.” Don’t worry if these are only a 15 minute walk or a 30 minute gym session. The important thing is that they are in the diary.
Something to ask yourself might be “Am I really too busy to find the time to take care of my health?” Take a look at your weekly schedule and determine where you might be wasting time. Can you watch one less episode of a show, spend less time on social media, or delegate certain chores? Prioritising your health may mean making small sacrifices, but the long-term rewards are worth it.
Something else I believe helps is when you combine social or family obligations. For instance, taking a yoga class with a friend, playing 5 a side football with your mates or going on a family bike ride can blend quality time with physical activity. You’ll save time and still get the benefits of exercise. Joining a community based gym like MSC will help massively too! 😉
Also remember that life doesn’t always go as planned, and that’s okay. If you miss your scheduled gym session, try to find a different time in your day to work out. Even a quick session at home or a brisk walk can make a difference. Flexibility ensures you don’t give up when things don’t go perfectly. Remember, you’re playing the long game here. One missed session doesn’t mess up the whole goal! But it’s important you get back on it as soon as possible.
Finding time for the gym is not just about rearranging your schedule—it’s about prioritizing yourself. Remember that even a little exercise is better than none, and consistency builds momentum. By taking small, manageable steps, you’ll find that fitting workouts into your life becomes not just possible, but sustainable.