And then you noticed your laundry piling up and the neglected lawn that should have been mowed when you were at the gym. You even have a few unpaid bills on the counter.

What do you do once reality sets in that the six or more hours a week you’ve been spending at the gym is time you can’t afford to lose? Don’t let reality kill your motivation – learn to fit exercise into a busy schedule.

According to Jill Lowery, a clinician at Portage Path Behavioral Health, self- perception is how one views himself in relation to his social world. “Having a positive self-perception includes taking responsibility for self, how accountable we hold ourselves for our actions, and being secure. These attributes are positively correlated to obtaining our goals.”

First, remind yourself of your fitness goals and focus on all the positive outcomes of these goals. Perhaps you have already met some of these goals already. By having a positive attitude, you can learn to meet the challenge of time constraints instead of using them as an excuse to quit your fitness plans.

• Be creative with chores. Burning calories doesn’t happen strictly in the gym. Turn on music and dance while cleaning or doing household chores. Listen to fast paced music when mowing the lawn to keep yourself from dragging. Turn leaf raking into a relay race game with your kids. By being creative, you can burn pesky calories and accomplish tasks that need to get done anyway.
• Can’t make time to go to the gym before work? Get off the bus a few stops early, or park at the far end of the lot at work and walk the rest of the way. Take the stairs whenever possible. These small activities add up over time.
• Family jealous of the time you devote to the treadmill? Spend quality time with loved ones on family walks, bike rides, or even hopscotch or basketball in the driveway.
• When balancing the checkbook or sitting at your desk at work, stretch at the end of each small task. Not only is it good for your muscles, it will help you regain focus on the task at hand.
• Join a gym that has activities for all ages. Join a class with your children or spouse, or enroll them in one while you focus on your routine. Make exercise a family activity.
• Tired of developing heart-healthy, low fat meals that everyone will enjoy? Make it a game to see who in the family can find the most tasty recipes for a healthy diet.

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