It’s true that exercise is necessary to maintain our bodies and physical health, but it is so much more than a way to burn calories to shed a few extra pounds. Exercise is a potent stress reliever, and studies have shown that it improves mental health. And having a positive mental attitude is imperative to performing at your peak and running your business.
But running a business is so demanding that it usually takes priority over hitting the gym, and it can be pretty hard motivating yourself to hit the gym in the first place. Add exhaustion after a busy non-stop day, and running a few miles on the treadmill can seem like a herculean trial.
So today we’re going to delve into ways you can incorporate exercise into your day to balance it with work.
Use Running and Biking as Transportation
Though it may not be practical for everyone, using running and biking as a mode of transportation kills several birds with one stone. Not only does it relieve tension and conveniently incorporate significant cardio into your busy day, it also saves gas and wear-and-tear on your vehicle.
There are, however, a few drawbacks. First of all, if your office is too far away, it may not be practical. Furthermore, if you don’t have access to a shower near your office, you may not want to be sweaty and disheveled in front of your employees.
Nevertheless, there are options at your disposal. For example, if you could carpool to the office or have a spouse drop you off, you could then get exercise by running home. And in cool weather, as long as you don’t overtax yourself, you can arrive at work by bicycle without breaking a sweat.
Keep a Gym Bag in Your Trunk
As the old saying goes, the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. Running a business is hectic, and you’re going to run into challenges you would have never expected to encounter. And when you find yourself facing a gargantuan challenge, chances are exercise is going to take a back seat to the problem that lies before you. As such, you need to have a flexible schedule.
If your schedule is too rigid and you only visit the gym between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm on weekdays, you’re going to miss a few workout sessions if unforeseeable complications arise in that time frame. Keeping a gym bag stocked with a fresh change of clothes and a water bottle will not only help you adapt but also save precious time otherwise consumed by a commute back home and then off to the gym.
Take Advantage of 24-Hour Gyms
Gyms like 24-Hour Fitness and Planet Express stay open round the clock to accommodate people with busy schedules. Though I’m not suggesting that you go for a session on the recumbent bicycle at 2:00 am, I can’t deny that 24-hour gyms allow you to be that much more flexible. Though most gyms open at 5:00 am or 6:00 am, 24-hour gyms are an advantage for super-early risers who like to get up at 4:00 am.
Overlap Family Time and Gym Time
Between working out and running a business, it may feel like you never have time to see your spouse or kids. But family time and workouts don’t need to be mutually exclusive; if you consolidate both activities, you can kill two birds with one stone. Sure, some families may have children too small and young to lift weights.
Nevertheless, note that your workouts don’t necessarily need to take place at the gym. Swimming, biking, and running are all gentle types of cardio you can do with your family, even if you have little ones. And if you’re excited to spend time with your family, the exercises won’t feel as much like a chore.
Make Goals and Put them in Your Schedule
Writing down goals and adding them to your schedule are two actions you can take that have a huge impact on the likelihood of success. If you don’t actually write down your workout goals, you are more likely to fall victim to the I’ll-get-to-it-tomorrow mentality, and we all know where that train of thought ends (on the couch with a bag of junk food).
Furthermore, not only does scheduling time for the gym help motivate you to execute on your plan, it also allows you to track your progress. Just be aware that your schedule isn’t set in stone, and you may have to juggle and trade different daily activities with your workout slot.
Use Micro-Workouts When You’re in a Tight Spot
Small business owners are incredibly busy, and you may not be able to find 30 to 60 minutes in your day to devote to a workout. Fortunately, you can leverage micro-workouts to meet the bare minimum exercise requirements. The 2015-2020 USDA dietary guidelines recommend a minimum of 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity physical exercise a week (150 minutes).
That breaks down into a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity per day. If you work hard and truly have the will, you can carve out 2 15-minute sessions of your day or 3 10-minute sessions per weekday. If that’s too much for you to handle, then you need to take a step back and realize that your life is out of balance; see if there’s anything you can sacrifice for gym time, improved mental health, and better fitness.
Don’t Work Out Alone
Though it may be tempting to use workout time as alone-time, working out with a friend or a group is more beneficial. Doing so gives you a support group and helps motivate you to show up on time and prevents you from cheating and skipping a workout. Plus, it’s safer to exercise with others, especially if you lift heavy weights and need a spotter on an exercise like bench press.
Final Thoughts
Small business owners have a million and one things to worry about, both in their professional and private lives. If you’re trying to maintain your website and oversee a digital marketing campaign on top of everything else, you’ve got too much on your plate.
Instead of living an unbalanced life and risking harm to your business, reach out for the help of a digital marketing professional to help grow your business without making your head explode.
