While you can think of a hundreds reasons why you should skip your workout, have you ever thought about reasons why you should not skip? Before we get to those reasons, ask yourself these questions:
- Why Do I Want to Skip Working Out?
- How Will I Feel If I Don’t?
- Is There An Alternative?
- Why Do I Want to Skip Working Out?
Is there something going on in your life that is causing you to not workout? Are you mentally or physically stressed in some way? Actually pushing through it and exercising can make you feel better.
How Will I Feel If I Don’t?
If you skip your workout, most likely you are going to feel guilty about it and mad at yourself. Do you really need that extra pressure? The mental consequences will be far less if you just go ahead and do it.
Is There An Alternative?
If you don’t feel like doing your normal full-blown workout, is there something you could do instead? For example, if you don’t feel like running, how about walking for 30 minutes instead? Anything you do is better than doing nothing at all!
6 Key Reasons to Not Skip Working Out
- Repetitiveness Forms Habits – If you want working out to become part of your healthy lifestyle, you have to work out on a consistent basis for it to become a habit. Skipping just one workout can undo what took months to create.
- Makes You Feel Good – When you work out, endorphins, serotonin and dopamine are all released into your system. These three naturally occurring chemicals elevate your mood and decrease stress.
- Improve Your Physical Stature – Working out tones your body, builds muscle and helps you lose weight. This leads to having better posture, your clothes fitting better and generally having a better image of yourself.
- Provides Long Term Effects – Working out increases circulation, builds strength, endurance and flexibility. All of these things can help you have a better quality of life in the future.
- More Quality Sleep – Working out makes you tired physically, resulting in more restful sleep more often.
- Time for Yourself – Sometimes we give so much of our self that it seems there isn’t any “me” time in a day. Exercising gives you that time away from everything where you can concentrate on yourself.
The next time you consider not working out, unless you are really sick, think about all the good reasons why you should strap on your running shoes or hit the gym. Once working out becomes part of your healthy lifestyle, you will look forward to each exercise session as a way to build a better you.
5 Tips For Fitting In Exercise Around Work
We are all busy these days, but what is your reason for not exercising – a lack of time or motivation? The point is regardless of your schedule, you have to make time and want to exercise if it is going to happen at all.
If you have the desire, but your schedule is such that you really do have a hard time finding time to exercise, commit to doing what you, when you can. These 5 tips should help you get started…
Tip #1 – On your day(s) off
Some working professionals find it easier to get in longer workouts on their non-work days. They don’t have to get ready for work, endure the commute both ways or try to struggle through a workout when they are already dog-tired from working. During their workweek, they can usually slip in some quick 10-minute workouts and still take one day off to rest and repair their body.
Tip #2 – On the way to and from work
Any exercise that you get is better than nothing. Some people get their exercise on the way to the office and again on the way back home. For example, if you drive to work, park at the far end of the parking lot and walk in the rest of the way. Do the reverse at night – walk back to your car.
If you use a public form of transportation, get off a stop or two from where you would normally get off. Walk the rest of the way to work; at the end of the day, walk back to the stop where you got off.
Tip #3 – During your lunch break
Most people don’t need all of their lunch break time to eat. Before eating is a great time to get out of the office and go for a walk. Just allow yourself enough time to get back and eat. If you have a fitness center on-site or close by, go there and get in a quick workout; allow time to cool down, shower and eat before returning to work.
Tip #4 – Before or after work
Some people can’t break away during their lunch time, so it is better for them to exercise before leaving for work and again once back home. For cardio training, it can be as simple as doing some exercises that don’t require any or very little equipment. For strength training, add in a couple of days per week that center around using dumbbells or resistance bands.
Tip # 5 – Taking the stairs
Climbing stairs is great cardio exercise. Once in your office building, take the stairs up instead of the elevator. Granted you are not going to walk up 50 or 60 flights, but you can climb for a few flights and then take the elevator the rest of the way.
Another good opportunity to get in some exercise is if your cafeteria is a few flights up or down from your office. Walk there and back instead of taking the elevator. Be sure to eat a healthy lunch.
If you are a person who stays home a lot, you can get some more ideas by reading “Stay at Home Exercises”. If you are truly motivated to exercise, you will find ways to fit it into your busy schedule.
