Finding the Time- Learning Where Exercise Fits Into Your Daily Life
11/19/2012 20:27
One of the most challenging and rewarding parts of my job as a personal trainer is helping clients dismiss all of the excuses they have for not making time to exercise. Usually, time is not the true obstacle, it's the inability to prioritize their desire for health and fitness.
One great strategy I have to help clients realize that lack of time isn't the the actual problem is something I call the "Free Time Journal." Anytime throughout the day that a client has downtime they are asked to record the activity they did during that time, the time of day and the amount of time they spent doing the activity. Downtime can include but isn't limited to watching TV, Facebooking, Tweeting, websurfing, reading a magazine or talking on the phone. Obviously if a client is spending hours a day on Facebook or watching television they are missing a great opportunity to work exercise into their life.
Clients are also asked to record the amount of time they spend doing activities that are considered emotionally or mentally beneficial such as reading, spending time with children and spouses or meditating. When a client spends a lot of time doing these types of activities I often have to reassure them that exercise is just as important as their other stress relieving activities and needs to be included as such. Occasionally, time is truly tight and a client doesn't want to impede on family time or lose the relaxtion provided by reading so I encourage them to multi-task. Exercising as a family is one great option as is reading while you workout. The goal is to find solutions that get individuals moving in the right direction.
A more difficult scenerio is when a client finds that their journal is pratically empty, illustrating that they have practically no time reserved for their personal life needs. This is when I encourage them to re-evaluate their schedules and commitments. You cannot be all things to all people and be nothing to yourself- we all deserve the ability to work towards good health.
Getting a clearer picture of how someone divides and spends their personal time is vital for figuring out where exercise best fits into their daily schedule. The truth is that the majority of us have the time to make health and fitness a part of our daily lives, we just need the motivation to make it a priority.
Read more: http://www.wholisticfitnessandnutrition.com/news/finding-the-time-learning-where-exercise-fits-into-your-daily-life/Wholistic Fitness and Nutrition: Blog 11.19.12
