Even though one of your New Year’s resolutions may be to exercise more, it can be hard finding the time to exercise each and every day. For example, your exercise regime may require you breaking a sweat five days a week, but you’re having difficulty fitting in just two or three gym sessions.

Believe it or not, you can actually supplement your workouts at home or in your office with ease. When stuck indoors, during TV commercials or even on my office lunch break, I’ll often try and fit in some simple exercises.

A few easy exercises that I like to do are wall squats, desk pushups and lunges. It’s really easy to change the intensity of these activities depending on your environment or how much time you have available. For more information on exercises you can you in the office, check out this article from WebMD.

Helpful tips for staying active at work

• Always take the stairs. Those three flights add up when you take them twice a day, five days a week.
• Offer to go on coffee runs… literally! Lace up your running shoes and jog to the nearest coffee shop. 1-2 miles should take no longer than 20 minutes. Cool down with a power walk back; everyone in the office will love you!
• Stand or walk while on the phone, if possible. Pacing back and forth can rack up calories without you even realizing.
•  Exit the subway a stop earlier. A brisk walk will wake you up in the morning and it’ll give you a chance to stretch your legs before you get home.

For more exercise tips, read How a Young Foodie Stays Fit: Advice from a Dietitian

Do you have difficulty finding enough time to exercise? Or have you mastered the art of the office workout? Share your tips and tricks with us below!

Working in New York City, I’m constantly trying to balance my career with living a healthy lifestyle. I shared some of my personal tips on how to conquer a crowded supermarket a couple weeks ago, but sometimes staying fit takes more than eating healthy; it also requires staying active.

Cardio

When you live in a beautiful city surrounded by picturesque greenery, there’s nothing quite like going for a run in the park. Running, along with cycling and swimming, is considered an aerobic activity – meaning that you’ll breathe faster and deeper throughout your chosen course of exercise. This process helps our bodies maximize blood flow as the capillaries widen, allowing them to carry more oxygen to the muscles. Aerobic activities also train our hearts to become stronger, pumping blood through our bodies in a more efficient manner.

Strength Training

Besides running outside, I also enjoy periodic strength training to keep my body feeling fit and free from injuries. Research has shown that regular strength training can help reduce the symptoms of various diseases and conditions, including diabetes, obesity, back pain and depression.

If you are new to strength training and haven’t touched a dumbbell before, I would recommend you start with a 5 or a 10 lbs. dumbbell. A quick YouTube search will help you find fitness professionals demonstrating the correct way in which to carry out these exercises. If you have access to a gym, consult with the staff and ask about strength-training classes, where you’ll be able to learn some useful techniques first-hand.

Strength training in conjunction with some aerobic exercise will help to maintain and build lean body mass. With regular exercise and a healthy diet, it won’t take long before you’re feeling better and are able to increase the duration and frequency of your exercise routine.

Go for a run in your favorite part of the city, or pick up a dumbbell after work to kickstart your fitness regimen today!

How do you balance a healthy lifestyle with work and your social life? Share your exercise tips in the comments section below!