When I was a teen, I would hang out at the gym for hours. I would take two aerobics classes in a row, sit in the sauna, do some weights and leisurely grab some lunch on the way home.
Now, with a husband and three daughters and an intense full-time job at a Fortune 50 company, the only way I can get a workout in is if it’s invisible. What do I mean by “invisible?”
I mean a workout that doesn’t interfere with the flow of work or family. About a year or so ago, I gave up a Saturday morning yoga class. It just became too stressful to be away after my third was born.
For me, not getting exercise is not an option. It is ingrained in my DNA and my body starts falling apart pretty quickly if I don’t keep it up. And, according to what my fitness band is saying, I need to get back on it and quick.
Here are some things I have done to make my workout invisible:
- Take my youngest with me to a Saturday morning barre class. She can play in the kid area during my class. Then I get her and we have lunch together. It’s turned into a nice tradition and everyone else can do what they need in the morning.
- Go to 5:30 a.m. Master’s Swim practices. Practice ends at 6:30 a.m. so I can be home before anyone even gets up. Note, I never imagined myself as someone who would get up at 5 a.m. to work out. I was always part-jealous, part-suspicious of those people. Now I might be one of them.
- The famous lunchtime workout. I pack a lunch pretty much every day and eat at my desk. Sad I know. This way, I can take whatever time anyone would expect for lunch and use it to go to the gym or do a swim workout.
- Other invisible workouts include, running with my little one in the stroller, working out while on travel and things like gardening, moving furniture, running around like a nut – this mostly happens on the weekends. It all counts in my book.
I have been known to hold work meetings at the gym. You don’t have to be a fancy executive to do this. You can walk and talk or if your office has a gym, you can meet there. I once held an interview over an elliptical workout.
As much as I am a fan of the invisible workout, the truth is that if you are valued at work (and at home), you will be supported. You just need to draw some boundaries and block the time on your calendar.
I am also lucky in the sense that I have a supportive partner who will watch the kids and bend on his end so I can get a workout in. And for his part, he also makes his workouts invisible – especially during the weekdays. He is a night-time exerciser so after he cooks for the family (did I mention I was lucky?) he leaves for the gym. I know another busy dad of three who jogs regularly at 10 or 11 p.m. at night. This is definitely not for me and I know this because I have tried working out after 8 p.m. and I am sluggish as a snail. But if it works for you, great.
My friend, who is also an aerobics instructor, says she is often asked, what is the best thing you can do to stay fit? She always says, do what you enjoy, because that is the thing that will keep you coming back. So I pass on that sage advice to you. There is no one formula that works for everyone or even for you over time. What works today may not work next year. The key is to keep playing with different ideas and options as there are many. You are worth it!
Wrapping It Up
As time goes on, I am sure I will be able to weave back in things like 2-hour yoga classes but for now, I am pretty happy if I can find a few invisible workouts through the week.
What sort of invisible workouts have you found? I would love to hear experiences from others.
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