People who are too busy to do exercise

[Hollyandivygoout]

I run about 4 miles, 4 times a week. I’m in a routine and force myself to do it even when I can’t be arsed. It takes me about 30-40 minutes each time I go for a run and I squeeze it in early morning, before dinner, just whenever I can really. I work full time and have 2DC who are admittedly at secondary school now, but this is something I’ve always done.
My AIBU is finding it annoying when people tell me they don’t have time to do any exercise. It’s like they’re so busy and important and I’ve got all the time in the world. I honestly don’t believe that the vast majority of people can’t squeeze in half an hour a few times a week.

I agree.

And, op, you might one day find yourself in the same situation, so never say never.

I exercised my whole life with real dedication, but when I became a carer (living over an hour from the career) and did that alongside my work, exercise went out of the window. Just picking it up again now.

So none of us should judge others. A) it is none of our business and B) None of us can afford to be smug because, as they say - there but for the grace of whatever force you believe in, go I.

Could she run in her lunch hour? That's what I do

You speak from such a privileged position @Hollyandivygoout its rather hard to know where to start.

I work 14 hour days in a physical job (healthcare) which includes heavy lifting.

I also have some health conditions that make regular exercise very difficult.

Thanks for telling us how much better you are than the rest of us. I feel so much better about myself now.

I volunteer in my community several hours a week. Would it be mean to judge you for not helping your community when you are selfish enough to use your free time on a hobby that benefits nobody except yourself.

Not everyone has the time, money, motivation and ultimately privilege to exercise, be thin, volunteer etc, etc. Just be grateful for what you have & leave everyone else alone.

I have the time, I just don't have the energy, and I can't run!

Work full time, have 3 boys at home plus DH. By the time I get home, make tea, sort washing, go shopping, give floors quick go over, do more washing (there really is a lot of washing), clean the bathrooms, etc. I just want to, as someone else put it, slob in front of the TV or go read my book. Or even just sit, do nothing and decompress.

But hey, good for you 👌

OMG, I would never find the time to go running and people who bang on about running all the time are boring as F

However, I do find time to do other excerise during my lunch break which i dont discuss with anyone. Not even sure who knows i do it bar my husband and a few close friends.

If i had to go back into an office, that would be the end of my of excerising

I think when I say I don’t have time, it’s not simply about finding the half an hour, it’s about having 30 minutes where I have enough physical energy. I study for my degree, work part time, have a house to take care of, and an autoimmune condition - I’d love to exercise more, but sometimes that just isn’t possible.

Well, I do more exercise on more days than you do... So what's YOUR excuse for not doing as much as ME...? It's so annoying, I honestly can't believe you think you are so busy and so important that you can't squeeze a bit more in...
🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

I was referring to parents of children

Some people want to exercise, some don’t. Some people can exercise, some can’t. And lots Of variations in that matrix. Can’t you imagine that everyone is different? I’ve been in phases of my life where I’ve exercised and phases When I haven’t.

Well, I can't run 4 miles in 30-40 minutes, so I would need longer than you to do what you do.

But they may be using this as shorthand for a variety of more complex circumstances. I don't say it (because largely I agree with you) but were I to it would be because:

1. I work full time and have no child care after 7 pm - I'm then restricted to exercise I can do in the house or garden - this limits me, particularly as what I really like to do is hike. Same at weekends. Kids not yet big enough to hike with me at weekends. It's easier to say I have too much on - which I do, in the day time when the most options are open to me.
2. Sometimes when I get to the portion of the day when I have time to exercise my resolve is low because I've stuck at various things all day and so have used up my resolve on things other than exercising when I'm tired.
3. I find it really hard to fit it in in the morning before work because my children start getting up from 5 am (without fail) and I refuse to get up before that because anything starting with a 4 is still the night.

So again, I think I could be forgiven for saying I'm too busy rather than explain that whole rigmarole. But yes, in principle I agree, I - and others who say they are too busy - could prioritise it more. I would benefit from doing so. Props to you - genuinely - for managing it. If you have any motivational tips I'd love to have them.

4 miles 4 times a week? Thats lazy OP I manage to get in at least 25 miles.

No not really. But I did when I had time and wasnt feeling so exhausted. Life has changed now so it isnt possible.

It's not just exercise you have to find time for. It's arranging childcare (if you have children) and the journey to and back from the gym. Then the time it takes to shower and do your hair. It really can be difficult to fit it into daily life.

This is on par with the molly mae 24 hours in a day comment 🥱

I leave for work at 6:30am so wouldn't want to get up earlier & before dinner I'm cooking/doing dcs homework & often DH is not home/still working so can't leave the dc alone.

Plus hate jogging, so try & do some yoga etc though.

I used to run 5km daily, gym, swim.

Now have young kids. Work in London with a 90-minute commute. I get an hour to myself each evening when kids are in bed, which I choose to spend with my DH, slobbing on the sofa.

Happier now than I was when I used to run.

I’m massively burnt out after a couple of years of studying part time around 2 jobs and having a toddler, so exercise has fallen by the wayside. I know it will probably help with my poor mental health, but it just feels like a hurdle too big at the moment.

Haven’t read the thread yet but I think you are probably right. There may be some people who genuinely work, eat, sleep but for most people (myself included!) being too busy to exercise probably just means they don’t have time to exercise AND do the other things that they want to do whether that’s watch tv, crafts, anything really.

Most of us if we are being honest with ourselves could squeeze something in.

A little?

Well done, OP. Focus on yourself instead of others, whose lives you know fuck all about.

Thing is, you’re exercising for yourself, not for their admiration!! It doesn’t affect you whether they exercise or not, and it doesn’t affect them whether you do.

I’m scrolling on my phone. I could be running, yes. I guess what people mean by ‘don’t have the time’ is ‘don’t have the energy / spoons’

If it improves your life enough to make it worth forcing yourself, that’s great, and worthwhile for you. Your reward is right there.

I run every other day and fit in a strength workout where I can.

I also have a permanently messy house, eat rubbish because I’m “too busy” to meal plan/shop properly and dress like a sack of crap 90% of the time. People have different priorities 🤷‍♀️

There have of course been times in my life when exercise has been put on the back burner because life throws curveballs in the way.

Perhaps you could run along and find some empathy.

Does it make any difference to you if other people say they can't find the time to exercise? You have just decided that people who aren't like you are annoying. Perhaps there are things in your life which you don't have time to do. After all, nobody has time to do everything. People generally have an internal hierarchy of what is important to them. I have to say, I go through phases of exercising. When I get into the regular groove of it I can keep going. But if something comes along to disrupt it, I find it hard to get going again.

For example, I was running three times a week. Then my son had to go into hospital and I was in there with him! When he came home, our routine was completely different and I found it hard to incorporate exercise into my new life. Not because there wasn't time, but because things were different and it was a mental effort to try and figure it out. Also, I am one of the many women who suspect they have undiagnosed ADHD. Part of this is finding it difficult to just go ahead and do stuff. Other people seem to just throw on their running/gym gear, get out there and do it. I start overthinking all the different steps and they become huge mountains to climb. Getting up. Getting changed. Getting out there. Having a shower. Washing my hair that takes an age to dry. They become so huge in my head that I simply shut down. And this isn't just about exercise. It's everything.

So I think it's probably best not to judge others by your standards. When I'm managing to get out there and run/walk or whatever, I feel a sense of personal achievement. But the last thing I think is 'why are other people not like me?' That's just ridiculous.

I used to be the one that said "im too busy"

I have 3 girls under 11, 2 are in competitive sports training 17 plus hours a week each and one is only 5, I work full time as does husband and the list goes on and on.

For me it was really about being insecure, i used all of these excuses to get out of the real reason which was i was lazy and had zero confidence.

I started training about a year ago, cried walking in, took every ounce of myself to go, but then i loved it and have increased my training to 4 times a week plus running.

I get up at 6am and do it so im back for the kids.

Noone is too busy, but im very empathetic when people say this as i understand the true meaning behind it.

It is certainly more difficult for some than others.

DH leaves at 6.30am for work gets back around 12 hours later and we eat dinner together. I usually work through my lunch break in order to take it later to pick dc up from school.

Because of dinner I wouldn't then exercise until 8.30pm earliest but which time I'm exhausted and it's dark and cold. I'm definitely a morning exerciser.

So I would typically have to choose between having dinner with my family - the only time we all connect together in the day - and exercising.

I do very occasionally do a YouTube exercise class on the weekends and I'd like to start doing it twice during the week too. But I'm v tired at the moment and sleep isn't great so I choose an extra half hour in bed.

I usually get between 7.5k and 15k steps in a day so I'm not totally sedentary.

I don’t enjoy exercising, I think a lot of people do say they don’t have time for it when they are like me and just don’t want to do it. At least I’m honest….! I go for a walk to the shops and back / into town everyday, which is about an hours brisk walking (I have an active 10 app) but it’s out of necessity not joy (because I have something to do in town). I am at the stage in my life where I won’t do anything unless I either enjoy it or I have to do it. I guess I’m more active than some because I do walk everyday but there’s no way I’m going for a run etc.