By: Ratasha Iribarren/Columnist
Like many of my colleagues, I find myself in a race against time every moment of the day with studying, papers, work and finding time to catch up with friends and family.
So when does working out and staying fit come into the picture?
A common excuse among college students when asked why they do not have a fitness regime is that they are pressed for time.
In my opinion, your health is something you make time for since it is how you are able to accomplish all of these tasks and live a longer, happier life. Here are some tips to help you squeeze in a swell session.
Mark your calendar or create a to-do list
Much like how you pencil in your next exam date for a class, entering in a workout time may not be a bad idea.
If you physically see the workout in your agenda or to-do list, you are more likely to hit the gym or pavement because you are making it a priority rather than struggling to fit it into your jam-packed day.
Thanks to apps like Google Calendar and Astrid Task, you can carry your schedule with you wherever you go and take advantage of the unlimited amount of space to edit and add dates.
Have a Game Plan
Now that you have committed to a workout time, it is time to decide what your fitness goals will be. Before you get to the gym, decide whether you are doing strength training, cardio, lower body, upper body, or a combination of everything.
Also, being the busy person you are, make sure you have a duration set in mind beforehand. Know more or less how many reps you plan on crunching or how long your treadmill run will be.
In addition, have a plan of how intense you want the workout to be and don’t forget to allow yourself some recovery and rehydration time between exercises.
As tuition-paying students, you are spending money on the Recreation Center. It is up to you to make use of the access you are paying for. If you do not have time to hit the gym, opt for some fresh air with a 20-minute run or bike ride.
Get Organized
One of the first things I try to do when I arrive home from work is lay out all of the equipment I need for the gym the next day.
Always remember to pack your bag with all of your necessary clothing, proper shoes, toiletries, a change of clothes, water, snacks and headphones (if you use them).
There is nothing worse than racing to the gym only to find out that you have to cancel a workout because you cannot run around in socks. I know this from personal experience.
Catch up with a Friend
Whenever I want to avoid a dinner date or a lazy afternoon of movie marathons accompanied with junk food during the summer, I would convince my friends to play a game of tennis.
Not only did we have a great time laughing at our poor serving techniques, but we also worked up a sweat within minutes of playing.
If hand-eye coordination is not your thing, try a brisk power walk. The best part about powerwalking is that anyone can do it and you can go at your own pace.
Walking with a friend is even better because you can utilize that added competition factor and motivate each other to keep going. For an additional challenge, bring along some weights for a strength workout while you walk.
Using weights distracts you from the walk and vice versa. After a while, you will be so busy looking around at the scenery that you will not even know you are burning up calories!
You do not need to be an aerobics instructor like me to stay in shape. Follow this advice to help make health a top priority in your everyday schedule.
Fit for Life! is a bi weekly health and fitness column. Look for it every other Friday this fall.
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