Balancing Gym and a Healthier You with a Busy Schedule

When your work life becomes time-consuming, staying motivated proves to be a difficult task. As your busy schedule takes over, previous priorities can get left behind.

One activity that many of us are guilty of not making time for is going to the gym.

Though you may not realise this yet, going to the gym for even a short period of time a day can be extremely beneficial for your body.

Sitting Down For Too Long?

Whether you work in an office, drive a car or spend most of your time at home, if you are sitting down for long periods of time, then going to the gym is all the more important for you!

Back Pain

If you find yourself regularly arching over your desk or wheel, you should know that you are actually causing damage to your back.

Ideally, the back is supposed to be contracting to allow blood flow. When seated, the spinal discs are compressed. This reduces back flexibility over time.

Sluggish Digestion

Surprisingly, sitting down for hours can also affect digestion.

This is due to the compression of the abdomen which disrupts blood flow, slowing down the breakdown of foods. As a result, you can suffer from constipation, cramping and bloating.

Leg Problems

One of the most common problems from prolonged periods of sitting down is poor circulation in the legs. Steve Iley, medical director at Bupa UK, has highlighted that this can lead to swollen ankles and varicose veins.

The legs and glutes can also become weakened from frequent sitting. This can eventually lead to muscle degeneration which is when the muscle begins to waste away.

Reading the potential problems that can occur, the importance of being active cannot be denied. However, when you have a busy schedule, making time for any form of exercise is where the problems lie.

Lucky for you, DESIblitz presents some tips on how to balance your busy schedule and the gym!

5 Top Tips: Balancing a Busy Schedule and the Gym

1. Find a Time Right For You

Finding a slot of time where you are able to get yourself to the gym can be difficult depending on your work hours. Many find it appropriate to either go early in the mornings or late in the evenings.

Some may even prefer visiting a nearby gym during their lunch break for a quick 30-minute session. It doesn’t have to be the same time every single day, you can work around your work schedule.

2. Organise Your Work

In some job roles, the work never ends even when you leave the office! If this is the case for you, then keep a to-do list so that all of your work tasks are completed in a timely fashion for you to go to the gym.

However, if your work is truly never ending then working out is a great way to give yourself a break, providing that all important stress relief. So, going for a quick 30-45 minute session would be ideal for you.

3. Set Personal Goals

If you set goals for yourself at the gym, this will keep you motivated to work out consistently. With no goals comes no determination to go to the gym as you are not working towards anything.

If you have an idea of how you want to look then you will make time for the gym as you know you have something that you need to achieve.

4. Make a Workout Plan

The most crucial advice you can give to any gym-goer is to make a workout plan.

This plan does not have to be extremely detailed, but if you have an idea of which muscle group you are going to train, you can be in and out of the gym in no time! In addition, by having a structure to follow, you are more likely to keep up the routine.

5. Be Prepared to Make Sacrifices

If you’re serious about living a healthy lifestyle, sacrificing other plans to make time for the gym is essential.

Of course, there are some plans that cannot be changed. However, knowing when to swap drinks with friends or a movie night snacking on junk food for a session at the gym is key.

A key thing to remember is that going to the gym is not simply a hobby, it is a lifestyle. If you set realistic goals and remain consistent with your training, you can make amazing changes to your physique as well as your health.

It is understandable that work can become an obstacle in your fitness journey, but with dedication to your health and by prioritising your tasks effectively, there are no limits to what you can achieve at both work and in the gym!