One Exercise Tip for When You're Too Tired, Got No Time, or Just Don't Wanna

It’s easy to make excuses for not working out – too tired, too busy, too stressed, too hungry, too sore…

Life can be hectic! I get it. 

Our bodies need regular movement. Building strength, maintaining flexibility, and keeping mobile ensures you'll age gracefully. It means you'll be able to live the life you want and do the things you want to do.  It keeps you Qi flowing! 

And it is about balance. Nobody should go full power and speed, doing super-intense workouts every day. That would actually be counter to building healthy habits. Even professional athletes have rest days! Very few of us are going to end up like this guy, anyway. 

If you're trying to build a healthier relationship with exercise, I recommend brain-storming a few things that you enjoy doing that you can rotate into your workout schedule. 

It doesn't have to be going to the gym - unless that's something you really want to do. 

This may seem weird, but I only do exercises that I enjoy. I only workout if I feel like it. I never force it. And I still manage to work out at least 5 days a week. 

Some exercise ideas:

• Foam rolling
• Those PT exercises you keep meaning to do more regularly
• Active stretching
• Bodyweight exercises or calisthenics 
• Go for a swim
• Go for a walk / hike
• Put on some music and dance your heart out

These are things you can do literally anywhere.

When traveling, I like to see what the hotel gym has. If they have an open mat space - perfect. That's all I need!  Or I'll plan a full day of walking around, sight-seeing. Exercise does not mean torture. In fact, if it feels like torture, just stop already! 

Now, for the motivation.  

Here’s what I do:  the 5-minute test.  

Start your work out.  After 5 minutes, if you still feel too (whatever), then you can stop.  

Most of the time, I think you’ll be surprised that you want to keep going.

Probably the exercise is just what you need.  

Think of it more as playing, rather than “exercising.” 

You have nothing to lose but 5 minutes!  

Depending on my mood, I pick the movement I most feel like doing and just start.  For example, if I need something slower and more healing, I’ll chose yoga or mobility work, maybe some foam-rolling.  If I need to relieve some stress, I’ll go for a brisk walk, do some high-tempo dancing, or practice martial arts.  

Trouble-Shooting Your Exercise Routine

I'm a firm believer of planning.  Everything goes in cycles, including your energy.  

I plan to walk every day, sometimes twice a day. Having an active dog helps with this. Although, sometimes it's more like going for a "stand" than a "walk" since he has to stop and sniff every single blade of grass, mailbox, and tree. 

I do yoga once a week in a class.  I stretch almost every day.  It feels weird for me to not stretch.  There's an old yoga adage, "Every day you don't stretch, you get tighter."  Truth.  

I dance (my cardio of choice) at least 3 days a week. Usually, it's just me at home, putting on some tunes. Sometimes, I'll go to a Milonga (tango social dance), salsa dancing, or 2-stepping. Really, it depends on what's going on and most importantly, what I feel like doing. 

I do mobility work (calisthenics, active stretching, muscle balancing, core activations, foam rolling etc.) about three times a week.  If I'm injured, I do it every day until I'm recovered.  THIS is why I recover so quickly from pains.  

If you're counting, you'll notice this adds up to more than 7 (days in a week).  I combine the workouts.  For example, I'll foam roll, then go out dancing.  Or I'll do bodyweight exercises and active stretching, then dance a bit. Most of my workouts include some sort of booty shaking, lol.   

This is very important too - 2 rest days every week.  On those, I still count walking or light stretching as "resting."  But I'm not really pushing myself too hard on those days.  

For menstruating women, plan your workouts around your cycle. 

It just makes sense.  During your bleeding phase, if you're a menstruating woman, plan to rest at least on the heavy days.  At the most, do walking and light stretching.  The high energy phase of your cycle, closer to ovulation, feel free to test your limits.  

 I plan (or rather, usually forced to include) a rest-week about every 3 months. 

This phase usually shows up when I have (1) injuries that just won't quit or (2) weird hormone stuff coming up suddenly.  

In the rest week, I still do yoga, walking, swimming, stretching, foam rolling.  I guess for most people that's still considered "working out."  It just depends on how hard you usually hit it.