I Don’t Have Time to Exercise
I love excuses for not engaging in a fitness activity almost as much as I like excuses for playing bad golf Actually, I might like bad golf excuses more. I bring my list of bad golf excuses with me to the golf course then interject them into the conversation whenever I can. “Wow, these new golf socks are really affecting my stance,” or “Darn, it’s so windy.” But, I never use the excuse, “I’m too busy.”
If I were to collect all the excuses people give for not being active, the one that would top the list would be, “I don’t have the time.” Strangely enough, unlike my sock excuse, that is a good reason. In fact, the toughest reason to deny and the one that causes the most frustration. You really, really, really want to be fit, but you are really, really, really busy. I believe you. But, are you too busy?
You know the expression, if you want something done, ask a busy person. I’ll bet you can squeeze in a favor for a friend at the drop of a hat. There is always more time in your day for that unexpected car pool request. It’s like juggling. Once you graduate to four balls going to five is not that big a deal.
There is one good piece of news - if you are that busy, you are probably on the move and moving is good. But if you feel tired, don’t recognize yourself in the mirror, or feel your age you need to step up and create space in your day for you. Keeping fit and healthy is self-employment - only you can have that job.
What about that time crunch? The first task will be to know how you actually spend your time. Keep a log of all your activities for two weeks. I have a posted a Time Tracker on my website, www.healthandfitnesshumorist.com. Open the Fitness Programs page and click on the link for Time Tracker. Track everything in your waking hours. Some amazing things will be revealed. One, you are probably more active than you think and two, windows of time may become apparent. Is there time in the day when you are just vegging in front of the television (my downfall), or maybe you wake up an hour earlier? A half hour? Seeing how you actually spend your time can be a real eye opener. What are your time thieves? Sometimes our time thieves are things that we can do without, reschedule, or just get someone else to do. Make an appointment with yourself to engage in physical activity. Actually putting it in the calendar might be just the step you need to kick start your program.
It is not always about finding the time, it is about priorities and the number one priority has to be you. Investment specialists will tell you to pay yourself first and that makes sense. Your flight attendant will tell you if you are traveling with a small child, you have to put your oxygen mask on first, then the child’s because you can’t help anyone else if you have not taken care of yourself. Taking care of yourself does not mean you are selfish. It will mean that you have the energy to care for yourself and your loved ones now and in the future. Your level of fitness and good health will serve to compress your years of disability in old age. You will reduce the number of years that you will need care. In fact, if you take care of yourself, you will be healthy your entire life and then just drop dead. There now, don’t you feel better?