• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About Us
  • STEPS Virtual
  • FAQ
  • Links
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • 615.269.8844

STEPS Fitness

Nashville's Premier Personal Fitness Training Center

  • STEPS Virtual
  • Programs
    • STEPS Fitness Presents Events
    • DR. Irv’s Perfect Exercise Minute
    • Training Packages
    • Group Offerings
    • Corporate Wellness
    • Traveler’s Special
  • Personal Trainers
    • Dr. Irv Rubenstein
  • Testimonials
  • Fitness Blog
    • Dr Irv’s Fitness Blog
    • Exercise of the Month
  • Newsletters
    • Fit Happens
    • Real News Newsletter
  • Search

July 1, 2012 By Irv Rubenstein

The Busyness Trap

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Who hasn’t made the claim – I’m just too busy to do xxxx? Even my kids, out of school for the summer with no real job other than a few babysitting gigs, are just too busy to do xxxx, or too tired to do it, whatever it is – like look for a job, read a book, exercise even if it is at daddy’s gym. In this poignant and somewhat funny essay, light is made of being too busy: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/30/the-busy-trap/?nl=todays…

I want to address it in another way.

When I get a new client, who usually states they want to make some change in their lives in order to get healthier, leaner, fitter, stronger, more thiThe Busyness Traps or that, I ask how can I help. Before they answer, I usually state, especially if weight loss is their goal, that they know how to do most of what I can help with. They know to eat less of this, that or all things. They know to exercise, walk or move or go to the gym. They know that they have to take responsibility for many of the changes necessary in order to see the results they want, and still they tell me they don’t have time. Somehow work, play, kids, parents, other obligations, all get in the way despite the same 24 hrs in the day that you and I have. What they often don’t know is that it really doesn’t take a lot of time to make these healthful changes; it takes consistency, regularity, and a long term commitment to stick with it. What they want from me is not the total amount of effort necessary but the way to start off so they don’t burn out, get hurt, or learn to hate exercise, and I give it to them in small doses. After that, it’s really up to them to make it work, whether they come see me regularly or proceed on their own. For the most part many still claim to be too busy, even when I suggest they simply do 10, maybe 15 minutes of some type of continuous movement each day. Mostly walking which can be done with no equipment, at home or work, or even the mall, but non stop, and not too hard. Initially it’s about creating the habit; then adding minutes/walk, then intensity IF their goal and abilities allow. Ultimately, it’s about regularity, making a habit and maybe even making it an integral part of their psychic and spiritual well being. Not to get too wishy washy here but if doing so makes you look forward to the short period of your day where you move your body simply because it feels good, then you’ve achieved a certain stage of nirvana, where for its own sake and not for the poundage on the scale or tightness of the dress or holes in the belt movement is desired and appreciated.The Busyness Trap

likewise, when folks come to me starting from scratch, with aches, pains, and chronic injuries that need to be overcome before regular movement is feasible, I start them with some bed-based exercises, things they can do when they awake and before they go to sleep, right in bed. Simple sets of 10, 3-4 exercises, done in 4-5 minutes. While I know most won’t do it twice a day, my goal is to get at least once a day and at least 4 times a week. We all have 40 minutes a week to do these simple steps to get strong enough to take more steps. Eventually, I add more exercises, more challenges, and constantly manipulate the volume to keep it within the 10-15 minutes/day nearly every day or minimally every other day. I try adding things they can do any time of day so you don’t have to retire to your workout space – push ups on the kitchen  counter, wall sits while talking on the phone – cell phones expedite fitness because you’re not attached to a cord, or heel raises while waiting for the morning coffee to cool off. All in all, my job is to minimize the reality of ‘too little time’.

Now, admittedly, this won’t get you ready to run a marathon, or lose 30# by christmas, or many other potential motivating goals. but you have to start somewhere. To go from 0 minutes a day to the idealized 60 minutes a day is like having your stock fund double by tomorrow – you can bet you’ll see a bust very shortly thereafter. Yes it’s possible, and stories abound of people doing so out of total frustration with who or what they’ve become. There’s a lot to be said for finding the balance that comes with gradual effort and results that, over time, prove to you and others close to you that you’ve been plenty busy, taking care of yourself.

Related Posts:

  • Exercise and Depression: A 2-Way Street
    Exercise and Depression: A 2-Way Street
  • There is No Such Thing as "Normal"
    There is No Such Thing as "Normal"
  • Part 1: The Diet-Obesity Debates Continue
    Part 1: The Diet-Obesity Debates Continue
  • Fit Happens - Spring 2020
    Fit Happens - Spring 2020
  • Fit Happens - Winter 2023
    Fit Happens - Winter 2023
  • REAL News - October 2020
    REAL News - October 2020
  • REAL News - May 2022
    REAL News - May 2022
  • Names, Titles, Honors: What Makes a Personal Trainer of the Year
    Names, Titles, Honors: What Makes a Personal Trainer of the…

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Fitness Blog Tagged With: aches and pains, healthy changes, movement of joints, physically fit, time for exercise

sidebar

Blog Sidebar

FREE Consultation!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Categories

  • Exercise of the Month
  • Fit Happens
  • Fitness Blog
  • General News
  • Newsletters
  • Real News
  • Trainers

Tags

achieve well-being aging Alzheimer's disease barefoot running body fat bone density burn off excess weight calories cardio cardiovascular childhood obesity coronavirus covid diabetes diet dieting eating disorders Exercise exercise intensity field of health or exercise science fitness flexibility functional fitness health Heart Health higher risk of obesity lose weight mental health musculoskeletal improvements obesity osteoporosis physical activity physically active protein reduce your risk of falling resistance training running Senior Training slows cognitive decline strength training Stretching training weight loss Weight loss vs Exercise gain weight management

Recent News

Feb 01

REAL News – February 2023

Jan 15

Fit Happens – Winter 2023

Jan 01

REAL News – January 2023

Dec 01

REAL News – December 2022

Nov 01

REAL News – November 2022

Reviews

Search Our Directory

Footer Widget Header

Affiliations

  • american-college-of-sports-medicine
  • american-council-on-exercise
  • biometrics
  • exercise-etc-inc
  • national-strength-and-conditioning-association
  • renewed-support

STEPS Fitness | 2424 21st Ave. S. Suite #100 | Nashville, TN 37212 | 615.269.8844 p

© 2023 Nashville's Premier Personal Fitness Training Center | Designed by Ponder Consulting ®