Creating a consistent exercise routine can be tough for anyone with a packed schedule. Sticking to any kind of a workout program is hard and challenging enough on its own. Then it gets much harder if you are busy running around (physically, or busy in your mind) during your normal day.
However, it is not impossible.
Here are some of our best and most useful tips on how to create a consistent exercise routine when you have no time for it.
Utilise Online Studios
Going to an actual workout class or to the gym is now harder and more complicated than ever, but it was not easy in the pre-covid times either.
The class itself usually lasts about sixty to ninety minutes, but we all tend to overlook the commute time, as well as the time it takes to get ready for the workout.
When you take all of this into account, you realise that a 60-minute workout class ends up taking 2 hours, and a busy person cannot afford that type of time on a daily basis.
Covid has pushed us all to turn to online approaches, especially when it comes to exercise.
If you are always in a hurry and busy, now is the perfect time to utilize the endless options that online studios have to offer. Online workout studios offer everything that the regular workout studios do without the hassle of leaving your home, which saves you a lot of time and effort!
So many of our MerryBody Members roll out of bed and hop straight on the mat… yes, in their PJs and get their workout done.
Need somewhere to begin? Try MerryBody, our Online Yoga, Pilates, and Meditation Studio. Simply search ‘MerryBody’ in your App Store or sign up HERE.
The difference with MerryBody is that we work really hard to create that in-real-life community feel even though we are online and have Members from all across the world!
Follow a Weekly Plan
If you are an avid planner and you like to know your week ahead, this tip is perfect for you! It will absolutely help you create a consistent exercise routine.
A weekly workout plan will allow you to look at your workout as a commitment and not something you just squeeze in as you go.
Or if you’d prefer a done-for-you method, you could Google it OR let us do it for you. At MerryBody, we offer a weekly plan each and every week (updated every Monday). But there is also a bunch of different workout programs to follow, like the GetFit Program or the GetFlexi program, something to fit everyone’s needs and schedules.
Make It Efficient and Effective (No, You Do Not Need To Work Out For Hours)
Just because you want to work out today does not mean that you have to spend 90 minutes heavy lifting or sweating your soul out during your HIIT workout.
A good workout does not have to be long, we focus on effective workouts here at MerryBody.
A thirty-minute long Yoga class that you give your best to, is better than doing Yoga for three hours but being absent the whole time. A 20 minute Pilates class that you’re actually excited about and you enjoy is better than a HIIT session on the treadmill that you dread in the lead-up and hate during the whole session.
We also recommend tuning in to how you feel. Bad day? Have your period? Don’t push yourself! Do a nurturing Yin Yoga class or Slow Flow Yoga class.
Feeling energetic like you can’t sit still?… Alright you need something fast-paced that is going to make you sweat! Select the Cardio option inside the MerryBody App… we’ve got you covered!
Pick A Time and Stick to It
You do not have to pick an exact time during the day (for example, 9 am) because the circumstances can and usually do change on a day-to-day basis. However, choosing a window in which you usually work out will make it so much easier to stick to your workout plan/routine.
Depending on your schedule, you could make a plan to do your daily workout before you shower at night or right before your breakfast in the morning.
Whatever time works for you is okay; make sure to pick it and then stick to it.
Create a High Low Goal
This method has proven to be successful. You pick the minimum amount you’d like to workout, a low goal, then you pick the max, a high or stretch goal. And usually, you land somewhere bang in the middle.
So your high low goal might be.
I am going to workout 3-6 times per week.
We have a feeling that you’ll probably end up working out 4-5 times a week. Make the goal even more solid by adding when you will workout.
I am going to workout as soon as I wake up, 3-6 times per week.
Connect to your WHY
Find a decent purpose to workout and all of a sudden you choose to make time for your exercise routine. And before you jump straight to the ‘I want to lose weight’ we will stop you.
Even if you have been told you need to lose weight by a medical expert, we can think of about a million other ways to re-frame this reason. This will not only make you more likely to stick to your workout schedule but you’ll also ENJOY the process!
We’ve written more about weight loss and exercise… READ THIS.
If you’re looking for a why, think about what you care about most.
Look around your home or space. What do you see? If you see books, you value your knowledge and capacity to learn… so workout for your brain (read more about what Yoga does to your brain HERE, it is fascinating!).
Maybe your kids are your why? Not only does this help you prioritise your workouts (we know that Mum’s often put themselves last on the list) it gives your kids an amazingly positive example to make exercise part of their lives. Be sure to involve your kids in your weekly exercise schedule. We have lots of Mum’s who do their MerryBody classes with their children (so cute!). Read about Fiona’s story HERE.
Maybe you look around and see pictures of your friends. Alright, it’s time to organise a weekly exercise session with these friends (online or IRL!). You can read about all the benefits of exercising with a workout buddy HERE.
Maybe your WHY is similar to ours… exercise simply makes us feel good!
In mind, body, and soul.
But it needs to be the right kind of movement, the movement that welcomes joy and fun. So for us, this does not include running or HIIT or big weight sessions in the gym. It’s more like Yoga, Pilates, beach walks, and dance classes.
Ahhh how fun!
If this is you too, we have a feeling MerryBody might float your boat, sign up for your trial HERE.
Always merrymaking,
Emma + Carla