Often the hardest part of starting something new isn’t the activity itself but finding the time to do it in our already-busy schedules. We all have a lot of commitments in our lives, such as work, taking care of our families, and spending time with friends, so we may perceive a lack of time as a reason we cannot add running into our schedules.
If you find yourself stressing over finding the time to squeeze in a run, let me give you some tips that can help get you started.
Challenge yourself to track your schedule for one day. At the end of the day, tally up the time you had free and what you did whether it was scroll through social media, watch TV, or other activities. You might surprise yourself with what you learn! Consider ways you can restructure your day to replace some of that down-time with running.
Plan your running schedule in advance. Look at the week ahead and build in times to go out for your runs. Use the same care to book your run as you would a work call or a Zoom get-together with friends. Prioritizing your running in advance can help you stick to the schedule and remind you how much time you have in the day.
Try to build a habit. The best way to commit to a new routine is to make it a habit—a regular practice that is hard to give up. For example, if your mornings are the quietest part to your day, create a habit of making your runs the first thing you do each day. If you’re more of a night-owl, consider creating a routine to make your evening runs a habitual part of your day.
Take your family and friends along. Rather than look at running as something you do in place of time with family and friends, consider inviting them along for the run.
Maximize your time on your off days. For example, if you have weekends off from work, consider prioritizing running on Saturday and Sunday. This way, you can save your off days for busier weekdays.