Finding the perfect balance between work, school, family, friends, exercise, and leisure time is a difficult act to maintain. More often than not, socializing and staying healthy are the first to get put on the backburner. The exhaustion you feel at the end of a busy day is an easy excuse to skip the trip to the gym. When you are in the zone at work or rushing from one class to the next, fast food seems like the quickest and easiest way to stay on track. You want to meet up with your friends, but there just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day. Even if this sounds like the endless cycle your everyday life is trapped in, there is a way out. You don’t need to sacrifice mental and physical health for a busy schedule. At the same time, you don’t need to sacrifice friends for exercise and vice versa. There is a way to do both, and we hope these tips will get your balancing act leaning in the right direction!



Meet up for exercise: There are countless benefits to having a workout buddy. You are less likely to skip your workout if you know your friend is meeting you at the gym. Also, exercising with a friend allows you to do two things at once. You get your much-needed workout in, without neglecting your buddies. You and your friend can push each other to work a little harder, while watching the time fly by as you chat and catch up on the latest gossip.



Set goals together: Whether you want to run a 5K, finish a triathlon, or simply improve your diet, find a friend who wants to accomplish a similar feat. Training for a goal is much easier when you have a companion. Plus, there is always the upside of celebrating together when you reach it!



Swap essentials: Staying healthy by your lonesome can get boring, especially when you stick to the same schedule and recipes everyday! You may find yourself wandering off track because you have lost the will to stick to a repetitive routine. Make exercising and healthy eating interesting again by swapping materials such as fitness DVDs, recipes, training tips, health magazine, and pump-up playlists with a friend. Every time the two of you work out, change who gets to pick the routine. You can’t be dreading a workout when you don’t know what’s coming!



Keep a watchful eye on each other: Whether you are trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy diet, keeping a food journal of everything you eat will help you meet your goals. A food journal will be more effective if you have a close friend or family member reading over it. Let someone check over your food journal; it will keep you honest and will provide for constructive feedback.



Socialize with health in mind: Instead of meeting your friend up for dinner, plan an active excursion for the weekend. Go for a bike ride, a ski trip, or even just a walk. You and your friend will benefit from the exercise and the chatting!



We all know work and school are an important part of our lives. However, nothing can surpass the importance of commitment to family, friends, and health. Daily interactions with friends and family improve mental health and can add to the length of a lifespan. Exercising and maintaining a healthy diet is also essential for living a long, happy life. In the short run, the combination of the two boosts energy and reduces stress. Not to mention, there is nothing like the support of a close friend when you are trying to reach your goals! So, forget about the excuses; call your friend up, tie your shoes and get going!

Winter is on its way and as you know, there are countless excuses for laziness that can be found among the dropping temperatures and dark mornings of these months. In previous years, you may have used every excuse in the book until January 1st crept up and you realized that the extra 10 pounds on your waist could use a resolution. This year, it is time to turn your chocolate-indulging, couch-sitting winter into a season of exercise and fun and save that resolution for something less cliché. Try some of these great indoor exercises, perfect for fall and winter, and watch the excuses melt away. Whether you want to venture from the warmth of your own home or not, these exercises will help keep you in shape all winter long.



Video Games



Yes, video games can get you in shape! However, pay careful attention to the disclaimer. You must let go of the games that require nothing more than a reclining chair and some button-pushing. There are many game consoles that promote exercise, even while you are in front of the TV. Wii Fit, for example, is a great means for playing competitive games while improving strength, balance, coordination, and even cardio fitness.



Dance Dance Revolution is another great video game option you can play to dance off the pounds. DDR not only works on your foot-eye coordination, but it keeps your body in constant, vigorous motion. The better you get, the more you sweat!



For a more traditional family game, play a few rounds of Twister to improve your flexibility and balance.



In-Home, Equipment-Free Exercise



The best part about staying in shape is that it can be done for free. If you must watch your favorite primetime show, switch from push-ups to jumping jacks to crunches on every commercial break. When you are doing a little work around the house or cooking dinner, jog in place.



There is no better place to let loose and dance than in the privacy of your own home. Turn on some music and pull out your best moves. Dancing is great for a full body workout, reducing stress, and increasing energy levels!



Multi-level homes provide a built-in cardio and strength training machine: the stairs. Running, or walking, up and down the stairs will be a guaranteed heart-pumper. You can also use the steps for calf raises and arm dips.



Of course, you can always bring the fitness classes from your gym into your home through the convenience of DVDs and videos. Pilates and yoga are great forms of exercise to take up during winter months. There are thousands of DVDs and online videos that will get your heart pumping, and help you make sure that you are using the correct form for your strength-training moves.



Home Gym Equipment



When you have the conveniences of your gym in your own home, there can be no more excuses. Fancy equipment such as treadmills, elliptical, and stationary bikes are a plus, but are not necessary. If machines like these do not fit into your budget, a simple mat, ball, jump rope, dumbbell set, or resistance band will do the trick. Strength and flexibility training will be easier with these accessories, not to mention more effective. For smaller budgets or space capacities, there are mini versions of stationary bikes that allow you to maintain a cardio workout while reading, watching TV, or working at your desk. They are easily portable too.



A case of the winter blues is no longer an acceptable excuse to sit on the couch all day. Take advantage of these simple exercises that will maintain your summer tone from the comfort of your own home. Of course, you can always head to your local gym to workout, take fitness classes, shoot hoops, or swim laps. The key for every exercise is to maximize use of your entire body, and lifting chocolates from the bag to your mouth doesn't count!