If you're like most people, finding time for

exercise is difficult. Here are my "top 10"

tips to help you in that quest..

1. Make exercise a priority. We all make time

in our lives for the things that are most

important to us. If I told you I'd give you a

million dollars if you exercised everyday for

the next 30 days, would you do it? Sure you

would, because it would suddenly become a

priority. If you're serious about finding time

for exercise, then it must be a priority in

your life.

2. Block out the same time period everyday

for exercise. This way it becomes part of your

daily routine just like brushing your teeth.

Vehemently guard this time period. It is your

time to take care of yourself.

3. Exercise first thing in the morning. This

is when your exercise time is least likely to

get interrupted by other things.

4. Turn off the television. The average adult

spends 16 hours per week watching television.

One of my clients told me that she resolved to

only watch television while she was exercising.

You may not be interested in taking it that far

but you can certainly cut out a few hours of

television a week to make time for exercise.

5. Wake up earlier in the morning to exercise.

Try going to sleep a little earlier and getting

up a little earlier to get your exercise done

first thing in the morning.

6. Spend 30 minutes or so exercising on your

lunch break.

7. Get a book rack for your stair climber or

treadmill and spend some of your reading time

exercising.

8. Visit with your spouse or friend while walking

around the neighborhood rather than sitting on

the couch.

9. Take a couple of days to write down how you

spend your time everyday, then determine how

you can better use your time to fit in exercise.

10. Make your exercise as enjoyable as possible.

You will be much more likely to find time for

things you enjoy.

Get movin'!

copyright 2004 by Greg Landry, M.S.