What time do you exercise if you work FT and don't WFH?

[roamingcat]

Hi all,

Bit of a silly question I know but I've always struggled to work out the best time of day to exercise around my job and to keep things consistent. I work FT (36 hours a week plus whatever I take for lunch) and don't WFH, my commute is about an hour each way. I'm really lucky that I have flexi-time so can start work anytime between 7-10am and can work less/more each day as I like as long as it evens out overall. However, I think the unexpected downside of this flexibility is I have always struggled to make an exercise routine stick as I don't have core hours to anchor it around.

My current routine is quite limited - I try and run 5k 1-3 times a week. I would like to add in some at home yoga videos for flexibility and have dumbells I could use to do some strength training. I've also been wondering if I should move to a compressed pattern - I could compress 10 days into 9 by only doing an extra 40 minutes a day and then could probably WFH on one or both of the other extra days (or take annual leave). The added complication is I also try and stick to intermittent fasting for health reasons, so eating before a run in the morning would require me to change this routine.

Looking from inspiration for you all - if you work full time and don't usually WFH and have a solid exercise routine what time of day do you exercise? What do you do on which days?

I work 8:30am-4:30pm in an office-ish job and I get up at 5:30am to work out from 5:45-6:30am. I mostly do weights with some yoga thrown in to maintain flexibility. Usually try to be in bed at 9:00pm so as to be asleep by 9:30pm. This schedule allows me to spend the time after work with my family. Also, no one else in the house gets up when I do, so I really enjoy the quiet and solitude.

I don't go anymore tbh but when at work I've done it a few ways.

Joint a gym near work helps, if you can have flexi location so one near work and home then that's even better.

Although you have flexi, I think setting your work time frame and sticking to it is key as it will help you plan.

I've done it and commuted in really early, done the gym and showered and gone to work. Bonus is you can just grab your bag and go, no showering or make up before you travel.

I've done it during lunch breaks if I can blah some extra time.

Going straight from the office is also good but you can easily talk yourself out of it.

Personally, I was more dedicated and consistent when I went before work.

Having seen the older people in my family and their decline in physical mobility I decided my health is important to me. I want to be in the best shape I can be now and for when I’m older.

Getting up 1/2 hours earlier than I normally would, is no skin off my back, and as I said it makes me feel good about myself and my day starts of well and i feel happy and energised, so it works for me and my lifestyle.

The days I don’t go to gym and I have a lie in (which is 6am thanks to kids) I honestly feel so Tired all day.

As others have mentioned, if it’s important to you to be healthy and exercise, you can always find the time to do it.

i’m in awe of those who put in a full days of work and do childcare, and then find the time and energy to go to the gym in the evening. Well done everyone

We have a gym on site at work which I use after work a couple of times a week. If I'm really feeling motivated, I'll go before work.
Swim early mornings at the weekends. Much easier to be motivated in the spring/summer.

Could you run part of the way into work by parking further away / getting off public transport earlier etc? I used to do that when I worked FT as it meant it I really had to put the effort into the exercise if I wanted to get to work ontime!