Make Time for Fitness

Here we are in New Year’s Resolution Season once again, where we set the tone for the rest of the year. Will 2012 be the year when you finally get serious about exercising?

The #1 reason for not working out is this: “I just don’t have enough time!” But is that really true? Try this simple exercise: List your top five life priorities. A sample list might read “Family, friends, health, caring for family, and learning a new skill.”

Now keep track of how you spend your waking hours for a couple days. What are the top five uses of your time? Do they match your priority list? If your top five reads “Work, spending time with family, housework, watching TV, checking facebook” then you do have more time, you just aren’t prioritizing that time according to your true priorities.

Here are 3 easy ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine:

1. Wake up earlier. By the end of the day, your to do list is growing and your energy is fading, so why not get your exercise in before you have a chance to be diverted? Going to bed just 45 minutes earlier allows for 45 minutes of healthy exercise, which is a great way to start your day!

2. Cut down on media. For many people, their Angry Birds get more exercise than they do. Snap out of it! Your time is precious, so why waste it on things you won’t remember? Cut down on time wasters and you’ll save enough time to make a noticeable difference in your health.

3. When you’re not doing much, do more. From desk jobs to couch surfing, there’s a lot of sitting going on in America today. Find a way to incorporate activity into your low-activity tasks. At work, use an exercise ball instead of a chair, or set an alarm to stretch and do 5 minutes of exercise every hour. At home, set the coffee table aside and do exercises while you’re watching your favorite show (save the more distracting exercises for during the commercials).

You do have time in your day for exercise. As long as you’re smart about it, you can get fit and feel better without making your planner any fuller than it already is.

Crown Prince wishes you a fit and happy 2012!