The lazy days of summer are over. School has started back up. Lives feel more hectic and busy, and daylight hours are continually shrinking. Here are some tips for those of us with to-do lists a mile long and those who need a little extra prodding.
Wake-up earlier: Setting your alarm clock an hour earlier might be just the trick you need to find time to run. If you’re not exactly an early riser, it can feel difficult making the switch at first. Over time, your body will adjust and thank you. Here are some tips to help get you out the door in the morning hours, as well as notes on what to eat and how to warm up.
Schedule it: There’s more on your plate, but that’s nothing a little time management can’t help. If you know when your time is occupied, you also likely know where you might have a half hour – possibly more – of time to devote to running. Decide how many days a week you want to run, find the time in your schedule, and put it in writing (or enter it into your phone to remind you).
Shift it: Along with scheduling, you might notice your time isn’t divided evenly from week to week. If you know you’ll be traveling for business or, conversely, that you’ll have added free time, adjust accordingly.
Pack it in: For the days when time is hard to come by, sneak in activity in short bursts. Take a walk during your break or try to pack in a short jog at lunch. Every 10 minutes or a mile are better than nothing.
Use the gym: Kids are a joy, but they can certainly complicate things. If your children are school-aged, try signing them up for a sport at your local YMCA and working out while they participate. You can also use your gym’s daycare or even asking a neighbor to swap childcare duties once in a while.
Find a new goal: Perhaps the trouble isn’t that you don’t have the time, but it’s that you’re majorly lacking motivation. The good news is that a body in motion tends to stay in motion, so you might just need a little propelling. Sign up for a race, try a new training plan, or check out that Zumba class at the gym.