Exercise is so good for us and we know it, but finding time within our schedules is easier said than done. I’m with you – as I struggled through most of 2012 trying to fit in exercise in the midst of ever-changing schedules and routines.

After sharing how I fit exercise into my schedule last week, I am pleased to have Kay Winders guest post again today. After sharing reverse mortgages in January, Kay returns with tips to using time wisely while focusing on your health!

Thanks, Kay, for sharing with us. ~ Tracy

Many people don’t exercise because they just don’t have the time. You have to get up early to beat rush hour traffic. When you come home after a long day, you either want to spend time with your family, or you just don’t have the energy to go to the gym. Weekends are packed with activities you weren’t able to get to during the week and with spending time with family.

But you can’t just not exercise. Exercise is important to keep your body healthy and to make you feel happier, more energized, and more rested. It is critical to find the time to exercise, even with the busiest schedule. Here are a few ways you can find more time for exercise and make your workouts more efficient:

Make Exercise Do Double Duty

There are plenty of chores you can do around your house to get in a good workout while also tending to your home care. Do some work in the garden. Give the laundry room a fresh coat of paint. Get on a ladder and clean out those gutters, or sweep the spider webs that are taking over your eaves.

Choose chores that already need to be done that can help you work up a sweat in the process. You won’t have spent any more time working out, but you’ll get the healthy activity that you need.

Workout with Family and Friends

Make your social time and family time do double duty, too. Go for a walk with your family at the end of the day. Enjoy a family game of touch football on the weekend. If you have been meaning to get together with a friend, schedule a match on the courts or go for a bike ride on a local trail.

You’ll be spending quality time with the ones you love while also getting in good exercise, checking two things off your to-do list at the same time. If you have young children, you’ll also be setting a healthy example and promoting good habits.

Break It Up

You don’t have to spend two hours in the gym in order to get a good workout. Studies have shown that engaging in multiple short exercise sessions is just as effective as engaging in one longer session. For example, getting three 10-minute sessions is just as effective as one 30-minute session. It is much easier to find 10 minutes in your day to squeeze in a little activity. Head out for a quick walk, do some stretches, or even run in place.

Come up with a repertoire of exercises that you can do in short increments. When you find yourself with a few free minutes between activities, engage in one of your “routines.”

Do More Intense Workouts

You can cut your workouts in half by simply adding intensity to them. Instead of walking, try running. Instead of running at a leisurely pace, run faster, or run up hills. When you add intensity to your workout, you burn more calories in a shorter amount of time which helps you get the exercise you need without having to commit excessive amounts of time.

The key to getting in an intense workout is to keep your heart rate up. You do that by challenging your muscle groups and by continuing to move.

Eat a Good Diet

When you eat a healthy diet, you don’t have to exercise as much to maintain a healthy weight or to get some of the other benefits like stable moods and increased energy. Make sure you eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, healthy fats, fiber, and water.

No matter how healthy your diet is, you will still need to exercise. However, you won’t need to work as hard as you would when trying to counteract the negative effects of junk food and fast food.

It can be hard to make the time for the exercise you need when you have a very busy schedule (and who doesn’t?). You can use these tips to find more time for exercise and to make your workouts more efficient.

Question: How do you make time for exercise? Share your tips in the comments!

Kay Winders is presently the resident writer for www.badcreditloans.org, where she researches the best way for people to pay off their debts without damaging their credit. In her spare time, she enjoys freelance writing, the beach, and gardening.