Hi Everyone!
You know the story all too well — you have the best of intentions, you’re going to fit a workout in, no excuses. Then … life happens.
Look, I get it. I’m a full-time practicing attorney, wife, mother, and blogger. I’m busy. You’re busy. We’re all busy. But, this really just boils down to an issue of setting priorities, and planning ahead!
As someone who manages to work out 5-6 days a week, I’ve mastered the “get out the door, get a workout in, and get back to reality, stat” routine. I must admit, my husband is awesome — he always protects a solid 60-90 mins (every. single. day.) for me — he takes care of Olivia, no questions asked. He does this because he’s probably one of the most amazing husbands out there (I know I’m a bit biased, but I still maintain it’s entirely true 🙂 ), but he also knows that I’m in a much better mood and more productive when I fit in a workout! Both he and Olivia need me to be on top of my game — and in order to do that, he knows a workout is an absolute must.
So, over the years I’ve learned that there are several things I can do to help ensure that I actually break a sweat every day. Here’s my list — and I promise, do these, and 9 times out of 10, your workout will get done. The other 10% of the time, hopefully a little less, circumstances outside your control may ultimately derail your efforts. No judgment and no dwelling — just get back on the horse tomorrow 🙂
Find Your Motivation
Yes, you want to fit into your skinny jeans, got it. But I have always found that it’s easier to commit to something (anything, not just working out), if there’s a meaningful reason for making the effort. Do you have kids? Do you want to be healthy and active so you can keep up with them? Is there a history of disease in your family, and you want to do everything in your power to remain healthy? Or, like me, can you view your workout as a time to just stop thinking — clear your head, focus on nothing but your breath, and just be? My motivation (in addition to fitting into my skinny jeans) is the high I feel after a workout — I seriously experience a sense of euphoria, and feel like I can take on anything, and I mean anything, after a good workout. Decide what your motivation is, write it down, repeat it, and use it on those days when the bag of potato chips and your couch is yelling at you louder than your running shoes.
Have the Right Equipment
This is important, and it’s tied to motivation. Are you more likely to go to the gym and have an enjoyable experience if you’re dressed in comfortable, functional, and cool workout gear, or your old basketball shorts and a dingy cotton tee you have in the back of your drawer that hasn’t seen the light of day since you scored it for free at that work conference a few years ago? I think you know the answer to this, so I’ll move on. I’ve handpicked some of my favorite gym staples below (check them out and get inspired!)
Schedule Your Workouts
Ok, if you’re anything like me, you tend to schedule your day (even if only loosely). It helps you remain organized, prioritize tasks, and get things done. Right? If not, start, it’s really important if you’re a professional. Your workout should be no different — it’s a priority, right? So treat it like one. Figure out when you have a window, write it down in your planner, or on your smartphone calendar (set a reminder if necessary), and know that during that block of time, it’s on! It’s much easier to take on any task if you designate a specific time to do it.
Lay it All Out
Your workout gear that is. I workout first thing in the morning — the alarm goes off sometime between 5 am — 6 am on the weekdays and 6 am — 8 am on the weekends. The last thing I want to do, particularly on weekdays, is fish around in the dark for my stuff! So, I lay it all out the night before, in the same place, so it’s ready to go. I throw it on, grab my bottle of water, phone, and keys, and I’m out the door! Ok, sometimes I take an extra 5 minutes to suck down a cup of coffee (I’m a full-time working mom!)
Plan Your Workouts and Have a Back-Up Plan
This is the key to getting in and out of the gym quickly and efficiently. Don’t just show up and “do whatever.” Have a routine planned. Write it down if you have to, and stick to it. I know the gym can be busy, particularly at the times you’re probably most apt to go (early morning or evening hours), so have a back up plan if the machine you were planning to use is taken. If you have alternatives, you can keep going without missing a beat. Also have a back-up plan if your entire routine gets turned upside down. I’ve shown up to the gym before and the person who was supposed to open it that morning overslept, and there were 20 angry people standing outside milling around by the door waiting for the poor guy to show up and let them in (and endure their dirty looks). Yeah, it’s annoying when stuff like this happens, but don’t let it totally upend you. On these days I go home, where I have a variety of workout DVDs and my very own barre (yes, I love it that much I had a wall-mounted bar installed in our home), and I get a workout it. It may not be what I was planning, but I’m still able to break a sweat, and lift my mood 🙂
Plan Your Outfits for the Week
These last two points are all about finding extra time in your day. I hear a lot of women say they just don’t have time to work out. I don’t buy it. What I think they mean to say is that it’s just not high enough on their priority list for them to make time for it. That I believe. Like so many things in life, planning and preparation does wonders, but it does require a bit of effort up front. So, unless you recognize its value, your unlikely to make the effort. But, for those women who do, they quickly find that even the smallest tweaks to their day can open up pockets of time they never new existed! Think of all you could do with that extra time, including working out!
Planning your outfits for the week is a great example. Think about it — how many mornings have you stood in front of your closet (full of clothes, btw), and said to yourself, “I don’t have anything to wear.” Then you proceed to try on 5 different outfits, none of which you’re crazy about, until you ultimately settle on something that you’ll second-guess all day long, and never really wear with confidence. Yeah, we’ve all been there. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. Chances are, you actually really do have plenty to wear, it just takes … say it with me … preparation and planning … to see your closet’s full potential. If you spent just an hour every Sunday looking through your closet and putting together outfits for Monday — Friday, they would be well thought out, appropriate for that day’s events (presentation, lunch with clients, etc.), stylish, and, best of all, you wouldn’t have to think about it each morning all week long! It’s done — so Tuesday morning, when your kid is screaming because she’s hungry, your boss is already emailing at 7 am, and you have to take the metro because your car is in the shop, at least you don’t have to stress over what you’re going to wear — you have an amazing outfit already picked out — the only time you’ll spend is the 30 seconds it takes to put it on.
Do Some Prep Work
This is all about prepping everything else you can!
If you have kids, lay out their outfits as well so there’s no waffling about what will be worn that day. Make it a game on the weekend — have them pick out their own clothes (that is, if you’re comfortable letting them leave the house in whatever they choose).
Plan your meals for the week. Chances are you already do this somewhat, since you need to know what items to purchase from the grocery store. But take it one step further, and actually write out the week’s meals. Again, you can make this fun! Pick up a chalkboard from the local craft store and write out the week’s menu each week, restaurant-style, and display it in your kitchen! The key is to make it fun and enjoyable so you actually do it.
Speaking of meals, if you bring your lunch to work, prepare it the night before, so the only time spent is the 5 seconds it takes to grab it from the fridge on the way out.
If you have any errands to run that day (dry-cleaning to drop off, mail/packages to ship, merchandise returns), get it all ready to go the night before and set it by the door so it’s there waiting for you!
I think you get the point — only you know all the tasks you have to tackle every day, so my planning may be slightly different than yours. But think about all the things you’ll need the next day, and get them ready to go so there’s no running around packing food, or chasing down receipts when you should be heading out the door.
Ok, that pretty much covers it. Follow these seven suggestions, and I guarantee you’ll have extra time in your day to workout, you’ll look forward to your workout, and most importantly, you’ll actually get it done!
Did I forget anything? Are there any other tips you’d like to include on my list? Send me a note!
yours, Kristin
workout gear // my top picks
Leave a Reply