Aug 2, 2017 3 min read

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As fall comes and our schedules change, I am someone who regularly skips meals and workouts, thanks to both a busy work schedule and family life. I’m wondering if you have any tips that might get me back on track?

Luckily, there are many people that lead busy lives while still finding the time for healthy meals and productive workouts – it can be done! You need to make sure that fitness and nutrition are priorities in your life. Once you make this commitment, doing the “right” thing will seem like a lot less work. Try taking an inventory of your week on Sunday night, figuring out which days are light and which ones are heavy in terms of work and family responsibilities. Then, you can schedule your workouts in your planner (remember, 15 minutes is better than nothing!) and resolve any meal planning issues as well. For example, maybe you need to pack more comprehensive snacks if you have a meeting during lunch, or maybe you need to create a reminder so you remember to take frozen meat out of the freezer the night before you cook it. Also, if you know that you have some extra time one day of the week, you can cook extra of items that may take a little longer, so that you can pull it out of the fridge and add some quick side dishes. These seem like small, almost trivial changes, but they make a world of difference when you’re in a time crunch. We typically schedule things we don’t want to forget, so why not schedule meals and workouts, too?

When I’m motivated, my workouts and diet are rock solid. But that’s my problem – motivation. Any tips to help me stay on track with my goals?

Absolutely! Even those of us in the health and wellness field struggle with motivation from time to time. We are certainly not immune. That said, as you head into fall, it’s a great time to reset and adjust as you get into a new routine with school schedules. There are several things you can do to help keep yourself motivated. First of all, set small goals. It’s important to know the big picture, but the journey to get there can be daunting, so break it up into smaller, more achievable chunks. Scheduling your activities helps a lot as well. If you treat exercise like an important meeting or like brushing your teeth, it’s more likely to become a habit. Partnering up is also an excellent idea. It would be difficult to find a better motivator than a friend of family member keeping you accountable to your workouts, your diet, and your newfound lifestyle. And frankly, sometimes you probably need a kick in the you-know-what. Last, but not least, pay for it! This may sound a bit odd, but if you have some skin in the game, the game dramatically changes. Buy a gym membership, join an online health website, purchase a credible book, or throw down some cash for a heart rate monitor. Making an investment in your health will pay dividends in the long run.

If you have a specific question that you would like to Ask Anytime, email washingtonpa@anytimefitness.com.