How to Fit Workouts in to the Workday

by Denise Austin, Contributor to Exercise & Fitness on Allthingshealing.com

Do you work full-time? This may be one reason you’ve been unable to commit to workouts. In fact, a study by the American Heart Association showed that those of us who are at the office 40 hours a week or more are far more likely to spend our free time relaxing on the couch than getting in a good workout. Interestingly, the workers in the study reported that it was emotional exhaustion, not hard physical labor, that had them reaching for the remote control.

But take heart — having a job doesn’t have to mean giving up on your quest to get fit. You can get a workout in without quitting your day job, the experts say. One smart suggestion? Break down your daily workouts into 10-minute mini sessions so they’re easier to squeeze into your lunch hour or other breaks. For example, try a few stretches and aerobic moves when you wake up, a brisk walk before lunch at the office, and an early-evening yoga session.

Another wise move is to simply turn off the TV, computer, or video game so you can use your downtime more productively. You can do it! And think about it: If you sat in an office chair for hours, the last thing you should do is sit right back down in front of the TV. Get moving — you’ll feel better physically and emotionally. Give it a try!

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

g d c.

8:41AM PDT on Aug 5, 2012

easier said than done...
isn't this why they invented wii? :-)

August 5
send a green star

Susan S.

5:07AM PDT on May 6, 2012

So easy.

May 6
send a green star

Amber B.

10:54AM PDT on Apr 29, 2012

thanks!

April 29
send a green star

KS G.

12:48AM PDT on Apr 29, 2012

Thanks for the article.

12:47AM PDT on Apr 29, 2012

Sheri P.

10:23PM PDT on Apr 23, 2012

good point...if you sit all day at work, the last thing you need to do is sit on the couch to watch tv...get active! thanks for the reminder!

April 23
send a green star

Joan M.

10:16PM PDT on Apr 21, 2012

Thanks for an interesting article.

April 21
send a green star

Kathy K.

8:11PM PDT on Apr 20, 2012

Thanks. I sure need to figure out how to do this.

April 20
send a green star

Sheri K.

8:23AM PDT on Apr 20, 2012

Nice to know. Even those who do not work need to try to fit in a exercise routine if possible at least three times a week. I am not one to do that...but I need to get myself to get into the habit of it or my muscle tone will be weak in my older aged days!

Nicole G.

1:30PM PDT on Apr 19, 2012

Thanks