A busy schedule may make it difficult to find time to exercise. However, there are ways to incorporate exercise into a person’s daily life.

Here are some tips for fitting physical activity into a busy schedule:

• See which car journeys you can replace with walking or cycling. Is driving to work necessary? If so, try parking half a mile away from the office and walking the final bit.
• People who commute to work by public transport could try getting off their bus or train a few stops early and walking the rest of the way.
• Consider walking up and down the stairs at your office instead of taking elevators or escalators.
• Try to think about the amount of time spent watching television and avoid watching for extended periods. While watching television, one could try light exercises, such as stomach crunches or jumping jacks.
• If a person enjoys video games, they could consider playing games that encourage physical activity, such as exercise routines on a Nintendo Wii.
• Vigorous housework, gardening, and going up and down the stairs while doing chores also qualify as physical activity and can help people meet the guidelines productively.

People will likely benefit most from exercises they enjoy that fit their lifestyle.

Some of the examples below are the easiest to fit into a daily routine:

• Go for a brisk 30-minute walk five times every week.
• Walk your dog more often or go for walks and jogs with friends.
• Try to add swimming to your weekly routine, even if it is not every day.
• Join some exercise classes that are fun, collaborative, and educational.
• Become a member of a martial arts club. Beginner’s sessions can be gentle and fun.

Exercise can be a gradual learning curve. One should spread sessions across the week and scale up the intensity slowly.

It is a good idea to drink plenty of water during and after exercise. Checking with a doctor is a good precaution to take if someone has a health condition or injury that could affect exercise levels or that exercise could worsen.

While a combination of aerobic and anaerobic exercise provides the most benefit, any exercise is better than none for people who currently have an inactive lifestyle.