Creative Ways Your Clients Can Get More Exercise When Short on Time
The importance of physical activity for physical and mental health cannot be overstated — in fact, we have written quite a few articles on that very subject! Click the links below to check them out:
- How do Various Exercises Improve Mental Health?
- How Does Regular Exercise Affect Heart Health?
- The Mental and Emotional Aspects of Fitness and Physical Activity
- Benefits of Physical Activity and Personal Fitness Training
But it begs repeating, regular exercise helps to maintain a healthy weight, reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers, and improve overall physical fitness. Exercise can also improve the health of your bones, muscles, and joints, reducing the risk of osteoporosis, arthritis, and other conditions.
Exercise is not only important for physical health but also has many mental health benefits. Exercise has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, improve mood and self-esteem, and enhance cognitive function. Exercise has also been shown to improve sleep quality, which can have a positive impact on mental health. Moderate aerobic exercise increases the amount of slow-wave sleep you get. Slow-wave sleep refers to deep sleep, where the brain and body have a chance to rejuvenate. Exercise can also help to stabilize your mood and decompress the mind.
Despite these benefits, many of your clients can struggle to find the time to exercise outside of their sessions in the gym.
What Gets in the Way of Exercise?
Despite the best intentions from the client and your expertise, 50% of people who start an exercise program will drop out within 6 months. Helping a client adhere to regular exercise is one of the hardest things we do as personal trainers. There are many factors that can get in the way of people getting exercise, including:
- Lack of time
- Lack of motivation
- Lack of resources
- Health issues
- Weather
- Cost
- Social factors
- Sedentary lifestyle
If your client has a job that requires them to sit for long periods or spend a lot of time watching TV or using their computer, it can be challenging to make exercise a priority. For many people, it can be challenging to find the motivation to exercise, especially if they don’t enjoy it or don’t see immediate results. Something else to consider is that many people may not have access to a gym, equipment, or a safe place to exercise outdoors, and joining a gym or hiring a personal trainer can be an expensive barrier.
Depending on where they live, inclement weather can make it challenging to exercise outdoors, especially if you live in an area with harsh winters or hot summers. We also know that certain health conditions or injuries may make it difficult or uncomfortable for a lot of people exercise, and some people may feel self-conscious about exercising in public or may not have a support system to encourage them to exercise.
For a majority of your clients, a busy schedule with work, family responsibilities, and other obligations make it difficult to find time for exercise. A survey of 2,000 American adults found that 79% said they feel generally happier when they stick to a regular exercise routine. However, 48% also said they’re too busy from work and other obligations to exercise at all.
As a certified personal trainer, fitness coach, or health and wellness specialist you may find that some of your clients are struggling to prioritize physical activity outside of their sessions with you because they Fortunately, there are many creative ways to get more exercise, even when time is limited.
Creative Ways Your Clients Can Get More Exercise
Despite the numerous benefits of exercise, many people struggle to find the time to exercise. Fortunately, there are many creative ways to get more exercise, even when time is limited. Here are a few you can share with your clients who are struggling to fit in fitness because of their busy schedules.
Take the Stairs: Taking the stairs instead of the elevator is a simple way to incorporate more physical activity into your day. This can be especially effective if you work in a multi-story building. Not only does taking the stairs burn more calories than taking the elevator, but it also provides a quick burst of exercise that can improve cardiovascular health.
Walk or Bike to Work: If possible, walking or biking to work is a great way to incorporate more physical activity into your daily routine. This can also save money on gas or public transportation. If your commute is too far to walk or bike the entire way, consider parking farther away from your workplace or getting off the bus or train a few stops early.
Exercise During Commercial Breaks: Many people watch TV in the evenings to unwind after a long day. During commercial breaks, your clients can squeeze in a quick workout, such as push-ups, sit-ups, or jumping jacks. This can add up to several minutes of exercise per day, which can have a positive impact on physical and mental health.
Take a Walking Break: If your client works in an office, taking a quick walking break during the day can be a great way for them to get more exercise. This can also help improve their focus and productivity. Try taking a quick walk around the building or going for a walk during your lunch break.
Do Household Chores: If your clients feel like their laundry list of home chores is getting in the way of their fitness, you can let them know that household chores such as cleaning, cooking, and gardening can all provide a workout for the body. These activities can help to burn calories, improve cardiovascular health, and strengthen muscles. You can recommend that they turn up the music and make cleaning or cooking a fun, active experience.
Dance it Out: Dancing is a fun and effective way to get more exercise. Whether taking a dance class or just dancing around the living room, moving to music can provide a great cardiovascular workout for busy clients. Dancing can also improve coordination and balance, which can reduce the risk of falls in older adults.
Starting an exercise routine is important, but making a plan to stay with it is the key to success. Nobody is perfect. And a major lifestyle change like making exercise part of your daily routine isn’t easy. So when your clinets slip up, or when travel, holidays or illnesses throw them off, remind them to not give up. The important thing is to getting them back on track as soon as possible.
Becoming a Certified Personal Trainer
Whether you’re interested in working with individual clients, leading group fitness classes, or managing a fitness center, there’s a personal trainer job that can match your skills and interests. By pursuing additional education and training in specialized areas of fitness, you can expand your career options and build a rewarding and fulfilling career in this dynamic industry.
Click here to get started with the NCCA-accredited NESTA Personal Fitness Trainer Certification.
Be on the lookout for future articles. You will also want to search through the archives of our blog because there are many other articles that go into great depth about a variety of topics.
There is always something exciting about earning a new training or coaching certification and applying that new knowledge of how you train your clients. This also helps you hit the reset button.
NESTA and Spencer Institute has been helping people like you since 1992. To date, over 65,000 people from around the world have benefited from our various certifications, programs, continuing education courses, and business development systems. We are here for you now and in the future. Feel confident in your decision to work with us as you advance your knowledge and career. We are here for you each step of the way.
Click this link to see our complete list of programs (all of which qualify for CEUs for our programs and others).
That’s it for now.
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