“The way we spend our time is our priorities, the way we spend our time is our strategy, the way we spend our time is what we really care about, the way we spend our time is who we really are….
You equal your calendar.”

This quote by Tom Peters in “The Excellence Dividend” is one that could be used when discussing progress (or a lack of) with people who want to get in shape.

But feel like nothings working for them.

But if they were to really honestly look at their calendars would they see genuine effort towards their fitness goals.

Or would it be more time watching the likes of Traitors, figuring out where to eat out and what bottle of wine goes best with your favourite tv shows?

Is it necessary to completely cut out all of the above?

No.

Do you need to spend all your free time on your health and fitness goals?

Definitely not.

But to get into the shape you want, you’ll have to put time into your calendar for efficient tasks that will get you there.

Such as:
– Meal prep. Can you batch cook at the weekend? Maybe you could do with ordering some healthy delivery meals each week?
– 2 to 3 well thought out workouts a week. Can you find a gym close to your work/home to save you time on your commute?
– Sleep. What activities can you cut out in the evening to give you more sleep time? For example you reduce screen time before bed to get to bed and asleep earlier?
– Daily Movement. How about getting a walk in at lunchtime. Maybe setting a timer to get up from your desk and move every 60-90 minutes throughout the day.

As mentioned above, you don’t need to let your fitness regime take over your life to get into shape.

But if you’re struggling to progress and make just a few small adjustments to your calendar you’ll be surprised at what can be achieved over a relatively short period of time.