Can you spare an hour today to exercise? Well, maybe half an hour? How about 15 minutes?
It’s ok. Just to find 15 minutes is a great achievement sometimes and it’s not only better than nothing but can actually be a great solution.
A trainer who used to work with me used to complain that he was spending so much time training his clients that he didn’t have time to train himself. I suggested he just choose one body part and train for 15 minutes which he did and guess what? He had even better results from his workout.
If you only have 15 minutes spare, don’t use that as an excuse not to exercise. Use that precious time to work really hard and extract maximum value from that short window.
Often, we can negotiate with ourselves and bargain to just exercise for 15 minutes but end up doing more just because time miraculously appears.
You never finish a workout regretting it, no matter how brief.
And, I’m sorry, but everyone has 15 minutes.
In part it’s about time management but, at the very core, it’s about priorities.
Do you want to brush your teeth every day? You probably don’t yearn for this routine action but it’s a priority. It’s a non-negotiable and something you simply have to do, no matter what. It’s been a conditioned part of your life since you were a baby and is part of your daily maintenance.
Exercise is the same. It’s just about your priority, your focus and your choice.
If you wake up complaining about being tired, busy and frazzled, you can be sure that the rest of your day will only get worse. If you wake up and feel pretty grateful to have two arms, two legs and a body that more or less works, all you have to do is get going. Focus on the positive – what I can do, rather than what I can’t do - and you’ll be amazed how you set the tone for the rest of your day.
Once you exercise, even if briefly, the feel-good hormones start releasing and that’s just the start of benefits. Better sleep, more relaxed, easier breathing, lower cortisol levels and, best of all, you feel proud of yourself. You’ve done something and that’s always positive. Sitting at your desk or on your sofa, thinking about doing something is pretty much, always a negative.
