How to Exercise When There’s No Time Left for You
As the school year begins and the pace of life accelerates for many families, I am reminded of the most commonly reported reason that people don’t exercise– time. Truth be told, time as a barrier to exercise is more of a mindset barrier than a true time deficit. Expose the root of your feelings of time impoverishment and you will take one step closer to a healthy active lifestyle….
Do you have time for everyone but you?
The classic, “I don’t have time to exercise, I’m so busy with… work, kids, kid’s activities, laundry, etc…” has become the mantra of our frenetic culture. We feel like in order for our team, family, or children to thrive, we have to give, give, give of ourselves until there’s nothing left. Then, the end of the day comes and we haven’t taken care of ourselves.
While it’s true that self-sacrifice for the benefits of others is necessary and even honorable at times, there comes a point where that self-sacrifice becomes unhealthy….and even martyrdom.
In fact, the sentiment that we don’t have time for exercise because we’re putting everyone else first, is founded on the martyr complex. Specifically, sometimes people neglect self-care to an extreme because it either feeds a psychological need or helps them avoid responsibility.
I don’t want to minimize the time intensive responsibilities of caring for young children or aging parents. However, the airline industry has figured out the appropriate self- verses other-care balance, which is to first, adjust your own oxygen mask. Then, help the person next to you adjust their oxygen mask. If we are weak and sick, we cannot help others to the best of our abilities.
Benefits of Exercise Extend Beyond Self-Improvement
Generally, people view exercise as a health behavior that improves the life of only the exerciser. But research shows that the benefits of exercise extend beyond improvement of health for the individual exclusively. Instead, there are also benefits to whom the exerciser serves and interacts with. Whatever social roles, like mother, father, neighbor, or friend, and formal work related roles like teacher, nurse, or physician that you are in, exercise will enhance your performance in each of these roles by way of increased energy and productivity, improved physical functioning, ability to serve others, health and fewer sick days, and improved mood.
Research is indisputable that exercise is the single best thing we can do for our health. Therefore, if we don’t take care of ourselves, we won’t be taking care of others effectively for long. Taking care of ourselves by exercising gives us the health to take care of others with energy and strength.
Taking care of ourselves by exercising gives us the health to take care of others with energy and strength.
Final Reflections
If you struggle with guilt when you take care of yourself, give yourself permission to release that guilt. You have done nothing wrong or selfish by exercising. Instead, when you take care of you, you also take care of your family. Living healthily is one of the best gifts that you can give your children in that they don’t need to worry about your health. You also model a healthy lifestyle for your children when you exercise regularly.
Lastly, do you want your children, family, and coworkers to take care of themselves by exercising? If so, consider extending that sentiment to yourself.
8,095 Comments
Leave your reply.