Do you find time to exercise?

[PumpkinPie2016]

I teach full time and I am 2nd in a large, core faculty. The job is busy, same as it is for everyone.
Before lockdown, I was doing virtually no exercise I did a pilates class once a week but that was it

I had put on some weight taking me to a size 12. Not huge by any means but I'm not very tall and don't carry weight well. Felt constantly bloated and lethargic and had no energy.

Since lockdown, I have taken up running and I am enjoying it and doing well. I have also altered my diet and lost a stone. Mainly though, the running has given me so much more energy and I feel great. I'm out 4 times a week at the moment.

When we go back to school in September, I really want to keep it up. I can run at the weekend but ideally, I also need/want to run maybe twice in the week. If you manage to exercise when teaching full time,how do you do it? I always seem to end up thinking I don't have the time.

Is it just a case of literally forcing yourself to make the time and saying, right, on Thursday, I am going to run after work and sticking to it? I can't think of any other way because there is always something work wise that would need doing.

I am trying to improve my work life balance and the exercise is part of that, not to mention the obvious health benefits.

I always go straight from work so that it's the first thing I do otherwise I wouldn't get it done. I do classes so a bit different but I liase times with dh book the classes at least a week before so we know who is going when, how we'll pass the children over between us.

Dh is fine with coming home and going back out later but I can't do it. If you're like me - commit to your days and time and try and stick to it.

Well done on being so focused in lockdown. I went the opposite way and went from exercising every day to only a couple of times a week. I struggled to motivate myself, I think I need the social aspect to keep me going. Back to it now though.

@roundtable I think maybe straight from work might be a workable solution. Like you, if I go home, I just don't end up doing anything.

I joined a small local running group that I run with once a week and I also run with a couple of friends I made there most weeks. Although it's more convenient to run on my own I just finish up getting distracted by work or things to do in the house and I don't go. It feels like a real appointment and I don't want to let people down by not turning up so I definitely run more regularly this way. I run by myself too but mostly at a weekend.

What other commitments do you have?

Pre kids I could exercise 4-5 times a week, straight to the gym after work and weekends.

Now with 2 kids I go running either very early before they are awake or in the evening. We eat together about 530 so by the time they're in bed I can do half an hour and still have time to work after.

I was going from school to the gym or climbing wall at 6.30pm (our building closes at 6 so it forced me to stay and get everything done before leaving) - having a friend to go with me or a PT session booked meant that I was less likely to bail out of it if I was tired. Many of my colleagues exercise in the morning (including some who run to/from school) so that might work for you if you can drag yourself out of bed early enough?

I may look at the local running club as having a fixed appointment might help

In terms of other commitments, I have a son who is 6 so need to work around him. DH is generally around in the evening so that would work.

I currently run in the morning and I do prefer going early(ish). Might have to try forcing myself out of bed early enough to run before work.

I bought a treadmill early on in lockdown and have used it almost every day. I am hoping that I will continue to use it from September as the money that it cost will motivate me!

I'm lucky in that I live close enough to work to be able to qalk. It's a 6 mile round trip and I walk briskly. I make sure I do the same mileage or more every weekend in term time and on every day of the holidays too. Gyms don't appeal but walking does it for me.

Qalk? Walk!

@InspectorAlleyn a treadmill does sound like a great idea - I'm glad it's been useful for you.

Unfortunately, I can't run on a treadmill to save my life I have no idea why -I can run over all sorts of terrain outside but as soon as I start to increase the speed of a treadmill above walking pace I just can't do it.

Maybe I am related to Bridget Jones