4 Reasons You Might Be Having Trouble Getting Exercise Into Your Daily Routine & How To Combat Them

A number of years ago I realised that I had managed to integrate my need for exercise and muscle building into my daily routine.  It was almost a compromise between my hectic schedule and my wish to ensure I stayed fit and healthy. 

Now I have a wonderful balance when it comes to my health and I’ve found a fitness programme that allows me to have a hectic lifestyle and a tidy home.  What better way to work out than in the comfort of your own home.

I’m sure there are some people reading this who absolutely hate housework, I can understand that, it can often be terribly boring.  But what I love about the HouseWork WorkOut (my book by the way) is because I’m always achieving more than one goal at any one time meaning the end results and benefits are much more rewarding.

For many people the HouseWork WorkOut will seem like their worst nightmare and it won’t be because they’re lazy or untidy people.  It will be because they haven’t recognised a solution to the challenge or fully understood how flexible and adaptable this plan can be.  It is completely and utterly yours to control.

I can’t always do the exercises myself.  I have a long-term chronic illness called Raynaud’s Scleroderma.  The Raynaud’s part of my illness is a relatively common condition in which people experience an interruption or reduction in the blood supply to the extremities.  It can affect the fingers, toes, nose, ears etc… During an episode my fingers, for example, would become white – this is a good early indication of the onset – then they will turn blue as the tissues use up all the oxygen available.  Eventually they will go red again as the arteries relax and fresh blood begins to rush to the fingers again. What Scleroderma is is a hardening of the skin, it’s a disease of the connective tissue which is what holds our bodies together.  Some people aren’t just affected via the skin, this condition can also cause havoc with your internal organs as well.

What this means is that sometimes I’m just simply not able to be as active as I want to be, sometimes my body just will not play ball and although it’s frustrating, I have to wait until it passes and find a way to psyche myself up again after the down spell.

In order to combat the challenges my illness presents I embrace them and I constantly adapt what I’m doing to suit.

Here are some of challenges you may face and tips on how to combat them:

1. People Getting In The Way

There’s nothing worse than being in the mood to get stuck into cleaning when everyone around you is determined to get in the way.  From toddlers and teens to pets and bored partners don’t let them slow your flow.

If you have to, banish people from the rooms you are cleaning or if possible give them jobs to do or drop some not-so-subtle hints encouraging them to go out for a while.

Be assertive, this is your “you” time as well as your contribution to the household so don’t be afraid to tell people to get involved or clear off for the afternoon.

2. Stuck In The Blues

When the low mood blues strike many of us just simply don’t want to do anything and unfortunately with this comes a vicious circle that can last hours, days, weeks, months or even years….if your low mood has lasted more than a week, I would advise you to consult with your doctor, maybe you have outside pressures and stress.  If it’s an ongoing issue you may be struggling with depression and it’s important to identify that so that it doesn’t take over your life. If, however, yours are the general low mood blues then it is possible to help yourself fast forward the process to get out of the cycle.

Believe me, I’ve been there, feeling so down that I didn’t want to bother, then ending up feeling guilty that I didn’t bother which makes me feel even more down…

It’s time to break the cycle.  Here are a few ways I do that:

a) Grab A Shower
No matter how clean you are jump in the shower.  Having a quick shower can help get the blood pumping around the body again.  It can help to raise your heart beat and help you feel more invigorated. Worst case scenario you’ll get a little de-stressing from standing under the water.

b) Blast Some Music
I have a playlist of music that I play to cheer me up, these are songs that are upbeat, positive and invigorating – you’d be surprised how easily our moods can change with just one happy song.

c) Relax
This might sound daft given that at this stage you’re probably lying in a heap already.  However, making a decision to get a cup of tea, a biscuit and to watch your favourite TV show or film will help you change your mindset.

The guilt will be gone because you’ve accepted that you need to rest.  When you’re finished you may feel motivated to do something else. If not keep doing things for yourself until you feel better.

d) Get Some Fresh Air
When I’m feeling lethargic or down I love to go out to my back garden.  I’ve created a nice space where I can relax and get some fresh air – this helps to reinvigorate me and gives me the opportunity to think about what I need to do before I make a plan to get started on my tasks.

e) Make A Plan
More often than not we avoid things like housework because we simply don’t know where to start.  Maybe you’ve let one or more rooms get a little out of control? Don’t worry, by creating a realistic and achievable plan for yourself you can break down your mammoth task into manageable segments.

You might even find that others around you will be more inclined to help when they realise how much needs done.

I find a good tactic is to group the jobs into one easy and one hard task per session and where possible finish one room before moving on to another.

3. Physical Restrictions

Whether it’s due to short-term illness, a chronic condition or a disability there are many reasons you may feel physically restricted from tidying or cleaning the house.  More often than not what is a quick, menial task for an able bodied person becomes a herculean challenge that you become defeated by.

First things first…it’s ok to ask for help.  Don’t be ashamed to ask your friends, family, colleagues or neighbours for their help.  Most people are more than happy to lend a hand and despite what you might think they won’t be judgemental of you or your situation.  

Getting a plan of action is your first port of call.  Find out what you need done, when you would like it done and decide which items on the task you can do.  For example, you might not be able to sweep and mop the floors but could you organise those photo albums, clear out the drawers, fold/iron the clothes or other tasks?  Any expenditure of energy over and above what you would normally do is a positive step forward.

I cannot over emphasise the importance of asking for help.  By asking for help you are empowering yourself to take control of the situation, not being beaten by it.  Allow people to show you they care.

4. Time Restrictions

Time is the one thing we all want more of and no one will ever (that I know of) be able to create.  Therefore, it’s time to live in your own realistic timeframe. If you’re constantly running around like a crazy person then you have to ask yourself some harsh questions.

Maybe you’ve taken on too much, maybe you need to learn to say “no” more or maybe you simply don’t have enough time to fit your life in?  Whatever is the cause of your time restrictions it’s time to get on top of them…

I’m a great believer in planning, I keep notebooks for everything, they help me to shape my thoughts, create my plans and execute my goals.  Taking time out to make a plan will save you more in the long run.

Reduce your own expectations at the beginning, why not start with ten minutes a day, increase it as you go along.  You could even allocate more time at the weekend. By doing this you will start getting into the way of prioritising time in your schedule for your HouseWork WorkOut.  Eventually it will become habit and finding time will be much easier.

The HouseWork WorkOut by Patience Bradley is out now and available from Amazon or www.excaliburpress.co.uk/store/products