You’ll find that squeezing in time for exercise is not as impossible as you thought—all it takes is strategy.
Is your valuable time spent thoughtlessly? Do you allow others to spend it for you? Have you ever replied “I have no time,” when asked why you don’t exercise? When at the gym, do you socialize more and work out less? Do you actually have time to think about your mismanaged time and fix it?
More people join gyms in January than in any other month. Of the 16% who resolve to work out more in the new year, however, 49% fail to adhere to their resolutions for all sorts of reasons. Here are the only legitimate ones: You're sore, you're sick, you're exhausted, or you’re hurt. That's it. If you have no time to work out, make time. This article shows you how.
Make yourself a Gantt Chart
In 1920, Henry Laurence Gantt devised a time management tool that has been adapted and extensively used by organizations even today. A Gantt Chart is a graphical representation of the duration of a set of tasks in a particular project versus the progression of time. It starts backward from the due date and measures what has to be completed in order to do each successive part of a project. This allows supervisors to see the duration of the project as well as the sequence of tasks requiring completion before the due date.
Want to lose ten pounds in five weeks? That’s two pounds per week. You’re given 24 hours each day—that’s 168 hours per week. Now how will you manage that towards your fitness goal?
Create a Time Grid
Divide a sheet of paper into seven columns. Your time grid shows your whole week from Sunday to Saturday. Fill in the grid with whatever your activities are. On the left side, write down the hours of the day.
For example, 9 to 5 is probably scheduled with work. Maybe you take a Pilates class Thursday and Saturday from 7 to 8. Just as you schedule time for work, schedule time for play and exercise. You’ll be surprised that no matter how much you work or play, you can find that one hour in a day where you are free to set aside for exercise.
A slice of your time grid may look like this:
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | |
| 7 to 9 | Sleep ZZZ | Breakfast Jog at the park | Breakfast Bike to work |
| 9 to 11 | Go to church | Work | Work |
| 11 to 1 | Swim at the Y | Work | Work |
Your time grid removes confusion for the best use of your time. When faced with “What should I do now?” your time grid shows it in black and white. It keeps you focused on what you should be doing. That means no to another hour of TV-watching when you’re supposed to watching your weight and working out.
Your time grid protects you from unwanted intrusions.
“Jeff and I broke up again. Can we talk?”
“Sorry, dear. Not right now. I’m on my way out to the gym.”
“Are you free this Saturday afternoon to help me move my furniture?”
“Sure, but only until 3. I’m scheduled for a session with my fitness trainer and I hate to waste the money I paid for my gym membership!”
Your time grid prevents burnout. Schedule your down time, too. Two hours a day that is just yours no matter what your deadlines are, no matter what you need to do. This also gives you time to accommodate emergencies life may throw at you.
Before you decide the grid won’t work for you, work with it. There is an old saying: “If you want something done, give it to the busiest person you know.” Use the Time Grid to get busy.
Fill up your grid with these tips
Start each day with a quick exercise. Greet the sunrise with a sun salutation. Or do push-ups, crunches, or squats. Do this for five minutes before stepping into the shower.
Invigorate your break. Instead of puffing on a smoke, take a slow, leisurely walk around the block. Come back to your desk with renewed energy and a fresh mind.
Make your living room your gym. So Heroes is on? Each time you see those fit actors on TV shows or ads sporting the body you want, get off the couch and do a set of push-ups or crunches. Smile and feel like a star.
Use technology. Play soccer, do some aerobic hula hoops, or a yoga stretch with your Nintendo Wii.
End the day right. Meditate. Lie down and take a few deep and easy breaths. Do nothing. At the end of a busy day, you deserve it!
No comments:
Post a Comment