Fitness and regular exercise are both really important cornerstones of good health. Physical fitness can enhance brain function and memory, improve cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure, and relieve feelings of depression and anxiety.

Exercise will improve the overall quality of your life, both in the short- and long-terms. However, with the complexities of life and its endless demands, it can be very hard to make time for exercise. That is why we have gathered 6 fitness tips for women who have a busy schedule.

1.   Exercise From Home

You don’t have to go to the gym or take up a professional sport to get a good workout. Not only can this be very costly, but it can also be very time consuming to actually leave the house and commute all the way to the gym and back. The thing about working out from home is that you can easily fit it in between tasks. If you are waiting for dinner to cook, you can complete a quick 20-30 minutes work out session. You can work out as soon as the kids go to bed or wake up a little early to get it done while everyone else is still asleep. Besides, there are plenty of workout plans available online that you can choose from, and many fitness tutorials on YouTube to help you out. Additionally, there are plenty of online quizzes and guides that can help you determine the best exercises for your body type. If you don’t feel like sticking to the same workout plan day in and day out, the best thing you can do is sign up for a dance or yoga class, all from the comfort of your own home.

2.   Dedicate Enough Time to Your Workouts

If you are generally busy, finding the time to workout can feel almost impossible. So, once you make the time, dedicate every single second of it to the workout. Don’t let any distractions disrupt your workout, and only take 30-second to 2-minute breaks between reps. Don’t feel tempted to indulge in any distractions, like checking social media, during this break otherwise, you can easily lose track of time. Use this time to re-energize yourself for the rest of the workout. Make sure to eat balanced meals, or take pre-workout supplements to get the most out of your exercise session. If needed, ask your family members, partner, or roommate to not disturb you while you are working out. Don’t slack, and try to push yourself to get the most out of your exercise sessions.

3.   Make It a Lifestyle

Make fitness a lifestyle, and not just a temporary goal. If you have the chance to take the stairs or the elevator, you should go for the stairs. If you need to run an errand that’s just a few blocks away, you could walk or take your bicycle instead of taking the car. If you have an IOS device, you can track your steps on the Health app and set it as a widget on your home screen to have a constant reminder that you need to be more active throughout the day. Set a goal number of steps to take within a day, and keep increasing that number as you increase your strength and stamina over time.

4.   Maximize Your Time

Delays can be your enemy. They can get in the way of your plans, which is very stressful and frustrating, not to mention that they often waste a lot of precious time. If you experienced a delay for some reason or another, try to transform the situation into something more positive.

For example, you can use the extra time to go for a power walk. This will be beneficial to both your mind and body. Taking a walk when you are feeling frustrated will redirect your focus and help you calm down.

5.   Socialize While Working Out

If finding the time to workout is tough, then finding the time to socialize will not be any easier. If you think that you have to give up on your social life to achieve your fitness goals or vice versa, you should know that there is a way to get the best of both worlds. You can have a designated workout buddy to encourage you to stay active. You can meet up with a friend and go for a walk, a run, or catch up over a spinning or a dance class.

6.   Get Active When Your Kids are Active

If you have kids, you can get active whenever they have activities scheduled. If you have to drop off your kids at the park, you can use that as an opportunity to go for a run. If they are practicing a sport, make sure to use that time to work out as well.

If you have a busy schedule, you might think that finding the time to exercise is nearly impossible. However, staying active is much easier than you think. With these 6 tips in mind, you will be able to stay fit and improve your physical and psychological well-being, even if you lead a busy life.