Introduction
It’s easy to put off running. After all, it’s something you don’t want to do and can be difficult to find the time for. But when you start to consider how much running makes a difference in your life—feeling more energized, less stressed out, having more energy for the things you love doing—it becomes even harder not to make time for it. So no matter how busy or stressed out you are right now, there is always time to run! Here are some ways that have worked well for me over the years:
Find a running buddy.
If you’re not already a morning person, having to wake up early to go for a run can feel like torture. Running with another person can help make the dreaded morning run a little more bearable. Having someone who wants you to show up and run makes getting out of bed easier, and running with them will definitely keep you motivated. It’s also good motivation for both people involved when they know they have someone waiting on them!
Get up early for a morning run.
The morning is a great time to run, but not everyone can manage it. If you’re lucky enough to have enough flexibility in your schedule to get up early and go for a run before work, that’s great! The key here is finding a time when you will be able to go for at least 30 minutes without feeling overworked or exhausted. And remember, don’t push yourself too hard; start out slow and build up from there. You might find it helpful to train with someone else who also wants to get into running—this way the two of you can motivate each other while getting some fresh air and exercise together. Also try doing something physically active before going out on your run if possible (like playing basketball or lifting weights), so that when you do start exercising again it feels easier than usual!
Run with coworkers.
If you have a coworker who is interested in running, find someone who runs at the same pace as you. Make sure it’s ok with your boss before you start running together. This is a good way to get exercise and socialize at the same time.
Run on your lunch break.
Running on your lunch break is a great way to get a run in, but it does involve some planning. Here’s what you should do:
- Plan your route before you go. Don’t just pick a random direction because that might not be the safest place for you to run.
- Eat something before starting your run. You don’t want to get halfway through your run and realize you’re starving because then all of that time spent running could be going toward your stomach instead of your body fat percentage!
- Don’t try and go too far in one sitting, especially if this is a new habit and not something that has become routine yet. Start small (just four miles), then increase as needed until eventually, you can build up enough endurance to cover six miles without stopping at all!
- Make sure to stretch out after each session as well—this will keep those muscles loose so they don’t become stiff when they start feeling sore after long periods of activity such as walking around town or running errands during business hours.”
Try speedwalking or hiking if it’s easier for you to go at a better pace.
Another way to get in a good run is speedwalking, which can be a great way to build up your endurance for longer distances. If you’re not used to running and wanting to ease into it, this might be the best option for you.
If speedwalking still doesn’t seem like your thing, try hiking instead! Hiking is also an excellent way of getting in shape for things like marathons and triathlons—or even just obstacle courses like Spartan races or mud runs where you need all-around fitness but doesn’t necessarily have time for long-distance training sessions every week (or day).
Run after work.
Run when you get home from work. If you have an afternoon run, this can be a little more difficult as many people like to come home, eat dinner and relax before they plan on running. In that case, I recommend running first thing in the morning before doing anything else.
Another option is to use some of those lunch breaks at work to squeeze in a quick run outside the office or even inside if it’s cold out (which happens quite often). Not only does this break up your day into smaller chunks of time spent running but it also gives you more opportunities throughout the week for exercise!
Reward yourself when you run.
Rewarding yourself is a great way to keep your motivation up. You don’t have to go out and buy something expensive or go on a vacation, but you can give yourself a reward when you run.
- If you run in the morning, treat yourself to breakfast after your run.
- If running at night, reward yourself with an extra hour of sleep so that you don’t feel like such a slug the next day (or just make it easier for yourself not to get up early).
- And if running during lunch break, take a 5-minute break from work and relax for 5 minutes before getting back into it.
- For those who do their runs close to home, treat yourself by taking a short nap afterward instead of going straight back into work mode (and then ending up falling asleep at your desk).
No matter how busy you are, there are always opportunities to run.
No matter how busy you are, there are always opportunities to run. You don’t have to run a marathon every day or even every week.
Running can become part of your daily routine, no matter what life throws at you. It may mean squeezing in just a few miles before work or after dinner with friends instead of going out to the bar—but it’s still running!
You shouldn’t feel guilty about not being able to run as much as you would like because there will always be something else competing for your time and attention. Don’t beat yourself up about it either; remember that it’s better to do something than nothing at all!
Conclusion
So there you have it. Eight ways to find time for running, even if it seems impossible. It’s worth the effort because running is one of the best things you can do for your body and mind. The feeling of accomplishment after a good run is hard to beat!