I thought it would be good for the first Monday Musings to be about an issue I’m currently trying to resolve: how do I find the time and the motivation to exercise like I want to when day-to-day obstacles get in the way?   

As a student, this was never a problem for me.  I’m a morning person so I would wake up, head to the campus gym where I had a locker with all my shower things, and then go straight to class.  I could fit everything (the commute, the workout, the shower and get ready time, the walk to class) into a 2 hour timeframe.  It worked out so well and I loved starting my days that way.  I enjoyed getting in a work out before an 8:30 class – it actually made me feel more awake while listening to tedious lecture material.

Now I’m having a hard time sorting out my exercise schedule as I work a full-time job.  What’s making it so difficult?  A few things:

• I prefer to work out in the mornings, not the evenings
• I like different kinds of exercise: strength training, running, cardio machines, spinning, group classes, yoga…
• I rely on the bus to get around
• I love routine but can get bored easily

Morning vs. Evening

After starting a full-time job, I’ve realized that morning workouts aren’t practical anymore.  I start work at 8am and don’t have the luxury of hopping in a car, going to the gym, and then driving directly to work.  Getting from the gym to work that early in the morning when the buses don’t run as frequently won’t be feasible. 

This means I need to flexible.  I’m going to have to adjust to evening exercise.  I will also try to switch between exercising right after work and after dinner.  So far, right after work seems to be working best.  And as a bonus, the gym isn’t very busy at that time!  If this is something you’re struggling with too, consider going to the gym at slower times if you can.  Also, going to the gym at a different time than you’re used to can be a great way to give your routine a boost.

Variety for Interest

I enjoy different kinds of exercise for one sole purpose: I like how I feel afterwards.  The downside of this is that I never really “accomplish” anything with my fitness.  For example, I’ve never followed a training plan for a half marathon because it’s just too much running.  It would be the same as only doing spinning classes or doing group classes as my only workouts.  I would miss weight lifting too much.  I haven’t improved my downward dog because I would have to spend more of my time doing yoga, which means less time on the elliptical, for example.  See what I’m saying?

The solution to this, I think, is to see variety as a good thing rather than a hindrance to accomplishing larger fitness goals.  I can adjust my fitness goals to be smaller within each type of exercise (i.e. do a cardio session on the elliptical at a higher endurance than normal, or be able to do X-number of unassisted pull-ups) instead of setting goals that require intense training for long periods of time.  Variety keeps exercising as a whole more interesting and can keep each individual workout interesting, too.

Bussing It

I mentioned this as it relates to the early morning workouts, but taking the bus to the gym also feels like a waste of time.  Sometimes the thought of being on the bus makes the couch seem more appealing.    The good news about the warmer weather is that soon, I’ll be biking to the gym!  Biking there is a great warm-up and cuts down the time I’m actually in the gym and the commute is nicer.

Do you rely on public transit to get to the gym?  Is your gym within a reasonable biking distance?  If it is, consider the bike ride your warm-up or your cardio session.  Maybe your gym could be along a great running route.  It’s the same idea: make the commute part of your workout.

Boredom Blues

Keeping exercise interesting goes back to variety for me.  If I can stop myself from feeling like I always need to be accomplishing great milestones with my workout, I know I like working out a lot more.  Aside from shaking up what I’m doing, I can also vary how I’m doing things to keep boredom at bay.  The thought of a boring workout sometimes discourages me from hitting the gym or going for a run.

Examples of keeping things interesting?  How about…

• If you’re using the treadmill, you can avoid boredom by changing the speeds and incline frequently.  I like switching things up every few minutes.
• If you’re doing free weights, rather than always taking rests between sets, do another exercise in between (this is called super-setting).  For example, after a set of tricep dips, do a set of squats, and continue until you’ve finished 3 sets of each exercise.  This keeps your heart rate up and makes weight lifting more interesting.
• If you’re out for a run, just try a new running route!  Use your run as a chance to check out a new area in your city and you might be surprised by how much faster a run goes; you’ll be too busy checking out the new scenery to get bored.
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The key to finding time and motivation to workout is to be flexible (pardon the pun).  I’m slowly starting to understand that flexibility and a positive attitude about exercise makes doing it much easier.  There will always be excuses for putting off a workout, so it’s a matter of taking those excuses and figuring out how the issue can encourage you to exercise.

Here’s to renewed motivation, uncovering hidden time and inspired exercise!