Time issues?

daniel7121

I know people say "If you don't have the time, make the time", but between working full time on the night shift and being enrolled in school full time, my extra time is almost always spent sleeping or catching up on things I'm behind on. I wish I had 1-2 hours a day to go to the gym, even if only 2-3 times a week, but it's nearly impossible. Anybody relate, or am I just making excuses?

GreekAmericanChrissy

When I was in college then graduate school and working full-time, I made excuses that I was either too busy or too tired to head to the gym but it's been my biggest regret. If I hadn't been a major procrastinator and finish class projects earlier than expected...I could've squeezed in a few minutes or even an hour or two at least BUT I didn't change my ways and I was emotionally eating so....as time passed, I gained weight and as I gained weight I become more unhealthy and unhappier so now...I'm trying to make positive changes in my life. Despite teaching at night on the weekdays, I plan on hitting the gym morning/evening a few hours before work to avoid making those lame excuses as I once had done. It takes patience, motivation, dedication but it's MY HEALTH and I'm finally choosing to make it a priority for MYSELF and no one else. I finally feel like I'm finding myself again and I couldn't be happier )))

juliecat1

Do little bursts of things when you can. 10 min crunch break. Park farther away and walk on at a brisk pace. Take a walking lunch break. Google desk exercises.... There's lots. You CAN make time. You don't need hours at the gym.

upgetupgetup

I know people say "If you don't have the time, make the time", but between working full time on the night shift and being enrolled in school full time, my extra time is almost always spent sleeping or catching up on things I'm behind on. I wish I had 1-2 hours a day to go to the gym, even if only 2-3 times a week, but it's nearly impossible. Anybody relate, or am I just making excuses?

You're not making excuses. I tried exactly that schedule some years ago and imploded. (Did really poorly on some of my courses, enough to make the whole thing totally not worthwhile.)

How are you doing? Anything suffering? With that experience behind me, I do want to suggest: if you're putting yourself through this, honestly I'd prioritize doing well in your course first, since you're obviously wanting a change in your life.

Then, getting by in your job, enough to stay out of trouble/keep things moving (most people just do that anyway).

Then last, just enough fitness to keep you alive. Which I want to say is probably lifting 1-2 days full body a week, walking when you can, and watching your diet.

If you can bulk prep meats on a Sunday, that'll help you minimize reliance on convenience foods when you're writing papers/studying.

Cait_Sidhe

I work 3 jobs. I do 3 12 hour overnight shifts and 2 8 hour day shifts, all while taking public transportation so often I have a 16 hour day. I do find the time to work out. You will too, just have to want it enough.

VelociMama

You don't need 1-2 hours per day. 30 minutes of activity can be sufficient for most people. Just up the intensity (gradually) to make improvements. I can be totally in and out of my gym in 45 mins including a quick shower after my workout.

swashburn3

I have a pretty insane schedule as a contract computer programmer. What I've needed most, I think, is structure. Maybe get a fitness DVD that you can squeeze in? Something where you can switch off your brain and just go at it. Something that didn't require a lot of set up.

RBXChas

I totally appreciate that you have a crazy schedule, and you're probably not getting a lot of sleep right now. I commend you for doing everything you are doing at the moment!

However, you don't have to commit to 1-2 hours in a gym. You don't even have to pay for a gym membership! I started working out with my sister, and we'd meet at 6AM to do a 1/2-hour workout (we were doing Couch to 5K). I woke up at 5:45 and got back home by 6:35 to shower. Because I had a young baby, sometimes I didn't get to shower right away (I'd come home and he was needing attention, but my husband might have been in the shower and unable to run right to him).

So maybe all in all, I was losing a half an hour of sleep, and since I had an infant, I wasn't getting all that much during the night to begin with.

Point being, if you don't have the time, you may very well just not have it. But if you can fit in 30 minutes somewhere in there, it's well worth it.

However, food is the large majority of the battle when it comes to weight loss. If you can put the focus on that and do even a small amount of exercise, you'll do well.

TheRoadDog

If it was something you really wanted to do, you would find a way to make the time.

itsfitnessnotrocketscience

I know people say this & I am one of them! BUT. Even with my extreme devotion to getting moving 5-6 days a week there was a period during college (engineering senior design projects...) and working (30+ hrs a week tutoring) that there simply wasn't time. Any spare hour was devoted to sleeping or, perhaps even showering! Haha, you know time is tight when a relaxing shower is a luxury.

Give slowing down a little focus when you can & exercise time will come back, promise

sofielein

I am finding awesome time excuses for exercise and housework, but I can play away on the piano or the computer for many hours no problem...

spade117

Anybody relate, or am I just making excuses?

The latter.

bumblebums

I never had the time or energy (or discipline, really) to work out in the middle of the day, so I started doing it first thing in the morning. Apart from giving myself a rest day now and then, I haven't missed a workout for several months now.

I suggest not aiming to spend 1 to 2 hours at the gym but just 30 minutes. If you use your time wisely (i.e., work your "intelligent edge"), it will be enough.

kristen49233

I can totally relate to what you're experiencing. Two years ago I decided to go back to school to get my Bachelor's degree. I worked full-time and took accelerated courses. Between work, school, homework and housework, I had zero time left over to do anything at all. I even hired somone to come in and clean my house just because I didn't want to worry about that. I did try to find tme to take a walk...not only for the exercise but I needed to clear my mind as well.

But I understand how you're feeling....2-3 years of complete exhaustion with no personal time. Good luck to you. I find it a little annoying that some of the comments say you can always find time. Everyone's schedule, workload and study load is different. Unless you walk in the person's shoes you really have no idea. There is no way I could have incorporated an exercise routine into my schedule back then. OP...I'm not trying to discourage your or help make excuses for you, I'm just saying I can relate. If you can find a little time hear or there remember it will be good for you...body and mind. Good Luck!!

usmcmp

I have a full time job, raise two kids by myself (divorced and live a 40 hour drive from my ex) and go to school. I still find time to eat well and exercise at least 30 minutes a day. I am always wiped out, but it's worth it. I will be competing in a bodybuilding competition in April despite having no time.

Skratchie

Yeah, when I was a single mother working full time, going to school full time, and with two active kids, I never bought into the whole "just make time" argument either, but I HAVE found ways to squeeze in exercise throughout the day. Take the stairs, park further away from your destination and walk in, go for a short walk to get away from your job if possible ... These days, time isn't so much the problem, but motivation is an issue for me at the moment. I know that the more active I become, the easier it will be to "work out" so I'm walking up the stairs from the first floor at work to the fifth floor where my desk sits. I paced outside my cubicle during conference calls yesterday, racking up more than a mile of walking. It wasn't ultra fast paced, but it beat sitting at my desk for three and a half hours non-stop. And at home, my husband and I play darts for at least an hour every night, which believe it or not, isn't a bad way to get more active.

Right now, I don't care so much about "working out" (though I will, soon; I know myself) ... right now, I'm more interested in being more active, and I'm ok with that.

branson101

I know exactly where you are coming from. I was going to school full time, working full time, was a full time single mother and had a house to take care of daily. Some people don't quite grasp the concept that their are only so many hours in the day and that you need to use a couple of them to sleep. Don't let the negative peeople that are telling you its just excuses get you down. I spent eight years running 18-20 hours a day (sometime 24-72 hours straight without sleep) and am now dealing with the health consequences. I've alway been fat. I have been since i was a kid. But now that I've graduated I have more time. Going to the gym isn't going to make or break your goals here. I am confident that you will find a way to make it all balance out.

SlickFootAnna

I wake up at 4:45am to get to the gym and I am at work by 7:00am.
Excuses. Excuses.

WendyTerry420

I know people say "If you don't have the time, make the time", but between working full time on the night shift and being enrolled in school full time, my extra time is almost always spent sleeping or catching up on things I'm behind on. I wish I had 1-2 hours a day to go to the gym, even if only 2-3 times a week, but it's nearly impossible. Anybody relate, or am I just making excuses?

Because I am short on time, going to the gym *is* a waste. I exercise at home and my workout is under 30 minutes.

MightyDomo

Make your time work for you, are you working on any classes that you need to read for? You can try to work out while reading, go to the gym and use the stationary bike and read (do high intensity intervals for added difficulty). If you have 10 minutes here and there you can do crunches (normal and reverse) and mountain climbers in 10 minutes and it will be a pretty decent mini-workout for 10 minutes. You find another 10 mins you can do burpees and lunges. Mix it up for each 10 minutes you find in a day and it will suddenly start adding up the more time you seem to find free.

moustache_flavored_lube

Make it a priority, and you will find a way

tigersword

I know people say "If you don't have the time, make the time", but between working full time on the night shift and being enrolled in school full time, my extra time is almost always spent sleeping or catching up on things I'm behind on. I wish I had 1-2 hours a day to go to the gym, even if only 2-3 times a week, but it's nearly impossible. Anybody relate, or am I just making excuses?

I work 40-50 hours a week (on 3rd shift, no less,) I'm a full time college student, and I'm raising a family. I still find time to exercise, at least 3 days a week. I'd say your making excuses.

daniel7121

Thanks for your responses, everybody! I really appreciate the honesty and empathy, on both sides of the issue. I guess there are a lot of little things that seem to contribute to my lack of time. Things like a 60 minute round trip highway commute to campus to take a 50 minute class, working 12 hour shifts 7p to 7a, commuting and attending class after my 12 hour shift, then coming to sleep for 5 hours, then back to work.

Here's a big thing: I have a lot of free time on my days off, but 1) I usually sleep in until 9 or 10p, and 2) I still live at home with my parents and brother and can't really afford to move out at the moment.. So when I could be working out, it's either 10F outside, or everybody is asleep >_< GRR!! haha I'm going to try taking some 30 minute walks after work on the days I don't have class and really try and control my diet. The easiest thing to eat on the night shift is normally something you can put in the microwave and nuke for 3 minutes to steamy, chewy perfection. But it's not the healthiest...

BelindaDuvessa

If you are into pinterest, there is a great one that I have pinned that is the quiet workout. It's one that you can do when everyone else is sleeping.

http://backonpointe.tumblr.com/post/22087833743/need-to-keep-it-down-for-sleeping-roommates-or-a

That's the link to the original blog. Back on Pointe has alot of workout ideas. Definitely worth checking out. The actual workout isn't that long, maybe 20-30 minutes.

As for your food, I know it can be difficult when you are living with other people, but you need to make it a point to take good quality food to eat. Take the time on your days off to make a couple of easy meals and freeze them to take when you're working. Buy fruits to snack on through your day. If you can, buy a mini fridge to stick in your room with just your own snacks in it. This could lead to some tempting late night eating, though, but it's a thought.

sugarxmexsweet

I can totally relate with you as I have no time at all to go to the gym but I make sure I walk a lot so I'm at least keeping active