The World Health Organisation recently released a report which found that more than a quarter of people worldwide – 1.4 billion – are not doing enough physical exercise. The consequences of inactivity are frightening. They include a number of health problems, such as heart disease, type-2 diabetes and some cancers. The reasons for inactivity are believed to be due to more sedentary jobs and hobbies, along with increased use of motor transport and, in my opinion, indiscipline.
The biggest excuse for not exercising is that there is not enough time. To be fair, it’s a valid reason. We all live busy lives and it can be very difficult to find the time to keep fit. I sometimes struggle to find the time and I don’t have the same responsibilities such as parents so I can understand.
Arnold Schwarzenegger famously declared “if the president has time to work out, if the pope has time to work out, then you have time to work out.” I don’t agree with this statement entirely. A lot of us commute on unreliable public transport while they both fly on private jets! I think they may have a slight advantage with time keeping. But I do agree with Arnold when he said we have to make time. Yes, we’ve got a lot on but it doesn’t seem to stop us bingeing on Netflix or repeatedly scrolling through social media.
At the end of the day, it’s all about prioritising our day. There’s a proverb that says “You should sit in meditation for 30 minutes a day, unless you are too busy. Then you should sit for an hour.” This isn’t applicable to exercise as sometimes a shorter, more intense workout is more effective than longer ones. However, the real meaning of the quote is about managing our time well. How much of our time is lost to procrastination? We can lose at least 10 minutes of the day hitting the snooze button and a lot more watching YouTube videos.
The trick is to dissect your daily routines to see where you have opportunities to exercise. It could be going to the gym or a run early in the morning in order to have more time in the evening. As mentioned earlier, workouts can be short and sweet and effective. For example, HIIT workouts can lead to more fat loss in a shorter period of time and can be done within 15-20 minutes.
We always feel great after a great workout and the benefits are enormous. If we don’t have time for exercise, we simply have to make the time. The idea of getting up early or giving up our past times for exercise can seem like hell. But if we remain inactive, we may find the devil is in indiscipline.
Fitness in Your 30s 