Finding Time to Exercise

When I was younger, my schedule seemed so much more flexible and there seemed to be more time in a day. I would get up, go to work early, come home, go to the gym, have dinner and go out with friends. Now, I wonder, how did I find the time to do all of this and not be exhausted.

My schedule is so much more busy these days. And, really, let's be honest, it's not just my schedule, but my husband's, my son's and my daughter's schedules that contribute to my busy life. One of my goals is to be more active and healthier. In order to achieve this goal, I need to have activity (exercise) as part of my daily routine. Sure, I get some level of exercise when I am playing ball with the kids, going for walks around the block, gardening, etc., but that is not consistent enough to achieve results.

I have tried to take classes before, but I can't commit to a specific date and time for very long. It seems that if I sign up for a class on Tuesday nights, the schedule will be clear for a couple of weeks and then I will have several weeks in a row where it doesn't work and then, it is so hard to get back. I recently found a Zumba class that works for me. With 5 classes available at one location and an option of classes at an alternate location on other nights - it is just flexible enough that I can usually make it to a class a week.

Again, one, maybe two, classes a week is not enough to achieve results. So, I had to find a time that would work consistently for regular workouts. I chose the morning. Sure, it is a challenge some days to get up at 5 am, but it is the one time of day that is consistently conflict free. The only plans that any one else in my family has at that time is SLEEP!

I actually have found that I enjoy the silence of working out in the morning. Whether I walk in the neighborhood, run at the track or pop in a DVD (typically reserved for the cold of winter and the wet of rain), there is generally silence while I am working out. It gives me time to decompress, to think, to work through things in my mind, to plan out my day and just to breathe in my surroundings. When I am out and about, I will occasionally see others, but it is generally in passing and results in not much more than a 'Hi'. Otherwise, my senses are filled with the world around me - the birds chirping, the gentle breeze, the painted sky of sunrise, the ominous clouds of a coming storm, the smell of fresh cut grass (if you can get past the noise of the mower and the smell of gas @ 6 am - they mow early at the track). You can check out my morning view here.

The other benefit of mornings is that I feel so energized for the rest of my day. There is something about getting your blood pumping that just keeps you going, makes you more alert.

Plus, I can start a load of laundry before I start my workout and switch it to the dryer before I head up for my shower - allowing me to get things done, while I work out.

Working out in the morning, works for me.