It’s Friday, so I am linking up with Courtney at Eat, Pray, Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed Up for What and Mar at Mar on the Run for their weekly linkup. Each week they pick a theme and bloggers join in and link up. This year instead of specific themes, they are letting us be creative with broad themes for each week of the month. This is the second “Fitness” themed week. (I know I said this last week but I got confused. I missed the first “free” week! Oops.) I am sharing my five fave fitness “hacks” for making this your fittest year yet.
What is a fitness hack? Well, it’s like a life hack for fitness. It is a tip to make fitness activities easier to complete on a daily, or several times per week, basis.
My Top 5 Fave Fitness “Hacks”
1. Exercise Early (and Often) – Not everyone is an early bird like me, but if you can exercise at the beginning of the day, you are much more likely to get it done. Even if you can carve out 15 – 20 minutes to move, do a yoga video or walk part of your commute, it starts your day right and gets some fitness into your day.
2. Find a Buddy (or several)– If your friends are waiting outside in the cold or at the gym for you, it is MUCH more likely that you will meet your exercise commitments. Find a friend who wants to train for a race or fitness event with you. Trade in a few of your usual coffee or drink dates for a spin class or walk. It is a great way to catch up with friends and to stay fit. A win-win!
3. Pair Exercise with Guilty Pleasures like TV, audio books or podcasts. Check out this Freakonomics podcast on temptation bundling. Like TV, but hate the gym? Start watching your favorite shows on the ‘mill or elliptical. I listen to podcasts and audiobooks on the run, walk and in the gym. Why? It makes the time fly. You may catch me keeping up with the Kardashians at the gym, but I almost never turn the TV on at home. This is a good habit and a great way to get fitter while having some fun.
4. Make Appointments to Exercise – Schedule it and stick to it. If you work in a company like mine, you might find that you have back to back meetings. Take some time to exercise. I am lucky that I work at home so I can get sweaty during the work day and no one will be more the wiser. If that is not the case for you, block out 30 – 60 minutes for a walk or yoga or some other sweat free activity.
5. Just Move! I have admitted my Fitbit obsession. Now on non-running days, I try to find as many ways to walk and move as possible. I take the stairs. I walk to do errands. I walk while I am on conference calls. I walk around the airport instead of sitting while waiting for my flight. Get a Fitbit or pedometer and challenge yourself to meet your goal most days.
Need more hacks? Check out Popsugar’s 20 Fitness Hacks That Will Change Your Life.
What are your favorite ways to make getting and staying fit easier? Please leave them in the comments!
PS. Don’t forget my great giveaways and this week’s Wednesday Giveaway Round Up Link Up!