by L.J. Pugh

Created on: February 06, 2010   Last Updated: February 18, 2010

Our lives are riddled with stress, “need to do’s” and friend or family needs. It has been emphasized over and over how important exercise is but do we really have the time to continually fit it into our lives? 

There have been plenty of studies done that confirm the benefits of exercise to our physical well being, from reducing Type 2 Diabetes to improving our overall immune system, but according Daniel M. Landers, Arizona State University,  and his paper “ The Influence of Exercise on Mental Health,” exercise also benefits our overall mental health.   

As such, exercise becomes more important in these times when our work and home life environment condone a sedentary life.  Below are five options to increase your overall physical activity based on your busy life style:

1.  Wake up a half hour earlier in the morning. For the person who finds they work later hours and exercise is just impossible to fit into the latter half of the day, this may be the best option. Upon waking,  immediately put on your exercise clothing and go for a walk, plug in your favorite exercise DVD or develop a weight lifting regimen (mixing it up will keep boredom away, increasing the likely hood of continuing the earlier time).

2.  Not a morning person, then exercising after work may just be your option.  Bring your exercise clothes with you to work and head straight to the gym vs heading home. This will eliminate the distractions that often side track us from the need to exercise.

3. For the person who works long hours or has a long commute, a morning exercise regime and/or after work program may be impossible. That is when your lunch hour at work will become important.  Take a walk during lunch or, for those who are lucky enough,  either workout at the gym provided by your employer or join a gym near your office.

4.  Break it up.  Wake up in the morning 10 minutes earlier and lift some free weights for 5 to 10 minutes before you jump in the shower.  Take the stairs at work instead of an elevator or take a walk at lunch. After work run around the yard with the kids.  Finish off the day with some light yoga, even a 10 minute stretching session will make you feel stronger leaner and more relaxed.  It’s all exercise and it all adds up.  

5. For the person who wants to fit in an extreme exercise program that can burn up to 1100 calories in one shot (according to various studies done by California Universities) your best option may be to get involved with an exercise program such as Boogie Box Fitness. With this type of program, you will find that the results for three sessions a week will make you lean and strong. 

In the end, the way to fit fitness into your life is determined by your life. To beat the blues and a decline in your health, make exercise a basic requirement in your life as you would eating your daily meals or drinking water.  

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