Time. “I don’t have enough time!”
This is one of the most common excuses people use to skip a workout, myself included. We all face it—the constant juggle of tasks that can make it seem impossible to fit in exercise. I’ve definitely been there, making a list of reasons why I can’t get my workout done. Here’s a glimpse at my usual excuses:
- I’m tired.
- I need to do the laundry.
- I need to take care of the kids.
- I need to clean the house.
- I need to prepare a lesson plan for work.
- I don’t feel like working out today.
- There’s just not enough time in the day!
- I’m not the priority today.
These reasons are valid and true. It’s okay to be tired, it’s okay to have things to do at home, and sometimes a workout just doesn’t seem possible. But here’s the key—it all comes down to how you choose to prioritize your time.
For some, waking up early to workout isn’t the best option. I totally get that. In my case, I’m a morning person, so it works for me, but sometimes you have to be flexible. That’s exactly what happened this past Sunday.
Our family of five had a slower morning than usual, which we always look forward to on weekends. We stayed in bed until 8:00 or 8:30 am, enjoying the calm before the day’s activities. My husband and I had planned that he would take our oldest son to hockey practice, while I stayed home to work on projects with the younger two. I was also planning to get my workout in before we had to leave for a noon commitment. But just 15 minutes before my son was about to leave, he came to me and asked, “Mom, can you take me to hockey today?”
I had to quickly rework my entire schedule, and in that moment, I realized something important. I wanted to say yes. I wanted to be there for my son, because those moments with my kids are the reason I do everything I do. Even if it meant I had to let go of my workout plans, I knew I was making the right choice. So, I said, “Yes, I’ll take you to hockey.”
Even though my workout was now out the window, I realized that having this quality one-on-one time with him was worth far more than lifting weights. We had a busy day ahead—a baby shower and a visit to a friend’s house—and all of the nightly activities of dinner, baths, clean up and getting ready for a busy week of school. The workout would have to wait.
Shoutout to Will for all of the projects that he did at home with our younger two while I enjoyed quality time with my older son at hockey. He worked on all of these projects with the boys and really shows me again and again what an amazing dad he is because of his prioritization of our boys and their success!
By the time we finished our activities, dinner, clean-up, baths, laundry, and bedtime for the boys, it was already 8:45 pm. Normally, at this point, I’d be ready to head to bed. But then I changed my mindset. “Why not go for a quick run?” I thought. I had originally planned a rest day, but I knew I’d feel better after a run, even if I was tired. So, I laced up my shoes and went for a two-mile run.
Running at night isn’t my usual routine. I prefer to run on an empty stomach, but after a day of meals, I wasn’t sure how my body would feel. I hesitated at first, and the excuses flooded in: “You said you were taking a rest day.” But then I reminded myself of the feeling I would have after the run. So, I pushed through, one foot in front of the other.
The first mile was challenging—late, dark, windy, and even a little rainy—but I kept going. When I hit mile one, I felt my dinner settling in my stomach, but I kept my mind focused on the goal. Slow and steady, I finished my run in 19 minutes. And it felt amazing. It wasn’t just about the workout—it was about proving to myself that I could do it, even when I told myself I couldn’t. After my run, I also made more time for myself in a little meditation. I sat in the rain on my stoop and enjoyed some quiet time for about 15 minutes. This was my recovery from my run but also a recovery of the whole week that had just gone by.
Sometimes we need to push through those moments of doubt. It’s not always easy to change your plans, but when you do, you might find that it’s for the better. I still managed to have a wonderful day with my family, and I prioritized my own well-being too.
So here’s your reminder: take your list of excuses and be flexible with them. Adjust your day as needed, but don’t let yourself believe that you can’t make time for yourself. You can! Even if the plan changes, you can still be productive and feel good about your choices. Take charge of your day, rework your priorities, and find a way to still do what makes you feel good. You might just surprise yourself!