With summer in the rearview, you’ve been looking forward to getting back to your workout routine…but before you know it, work, school, the holidays and other demands push your fitness plan to the bottom of your to-do list.

First thing’s first: Forgive yourself for missing a workout or two during this busy season, but promise yourself that it won’t become a habit. Exercising hard enough, long enough, and frequently enough is necessary to meet your wellness goals and improve your health.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise, in addition to strength training, on two or more days every week. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 20 percent of adults in the U.S. actually meet these recommendations.

Here are a few tips to help you master your schedule during this busy season, in case you can’t come to THE GYM as often as you usually do:

• Commit to two or three well-designed weekly workouts. Even elite athletes periodize their training program, increasing and decreasing different variables based on time of year. During their off-season, they might increase their training volume and frequency while decreasing intensity. Closer to championship season, they’ll decrease their volume or frequency while increasing intensity. You can do the same by cutting back to 2 or 3 intense workouts during “busy” times of the year.
• Schedule your workouts like you schedule your meetings. Carve out time in the day especially for your wellness plan.
• Keep your gym bag in your car, so you always have what you need if an opportune time to work out strikes.
• Combine your commute with your workout. Get your cardio by walking, running, or cycling to and from work or your to-dos, in case you can’t make it to THE GYM that day.
• Learn to create a 30-minute workout that maximizes your time. You don’t need to spend countless hours at THE GYM to see results. Simply design a training program that utilizes ONLY the highest yield exercises.
• Take a class or schedule a personal training session so a time, place and workout are already determined ahead of time. That way, you can work it into your schedule.
• Take full advantage of your weekends! Do you normally spend a couple hours in front of the TV? Come watch the game while you work out instead. Tune in using our big-screen TVs and Audio Fetch app.

Living an active, healthy lifestyle does not require a deadline. When life throws you off track, don’t panic: Just get right back on the wagon. Ask our Membership Advisors for assistance. We’ll help schedule you for a goals assessment to keep you on track.