7 Tips for Balancing Work – and Working Out – for the Millennial Woman  

The millennial generation is frequently overscheduled and incessantly busy, yet millennials are also one of the most active generations, too. Eighty-one percent of millennials exercise regularlyaccording to a 2014 Nielsen Consumer Exercise Trends Survey. How has such a busy generation mastered the balance of working and working out?

I’m a millennial myself, and I know I don’t exercise nearly as much as I should or as much as many of my peers. I will typically exercise three days per week – and even that is a challenge to fit in to my 70 hour per week work demands. It’s a priority for me – and, like many other millennials, for reasons outside of “looking fit” or losing weight. Millennials like me exercise as a way to live a more active and fulfilling life.

Because exercise is a priority, one that needs to be balanced with a very demanding career, I’ve researched and developed my own “best practices” to allow me to balance working and working out (as well as all of life’s other demands).

• Exercise Is Important but Not Urgent. One of the biggest challenges with exercise is that it is important but not urgent. Most things that I do at the office are both urgent and important. I spend my life running from project to project that just can’t wait. Exercise can wait, but it shouldn’t. Reprioritize it. Make it urgent and important – and get it done.

• Find a Workout You Enjoy. This is critical! If you hate going to the gym, chances are that you are rarely going to go the gym. If you can find a workout that you enjoy, you can treat it both as exercise and as a hobby, and it will change your commitment level. For me, yoga is a godsend. It refreshes my mind, strengthens my body, and is a positive influence on my life. Some days I still dread yoga class, but I am always so happy that I did it when I leave.

• Put Workouts on the Calendar. It may seem excessive to add workouts to your calendar, but if they are not there, it’s unlikely that you will remember to exercise and block out the time for it. Adding workouts to your calendar is one more reminder, one more push in the right direction, to encourage you to get out and put your health first.

• Walk to Meetings – and Try Walking Meetings. If you have the opportunity to get out of the office during the day, try walking to your meetings instead of driving or taking public transportation. Carry a pair of flip flops or sneakers in your purse, and slip them on any time you have the opportunity to walk a few blocks. Furthermore, instead of scheduling traditional meetings, oftentimes over shared meals or drinks, try scheduling a “walking meeting.” I just had my first taste of this last month, and it was a fantastic way of connecting with peers, gaining a fresh perspective, and burning some calories.

• Incentivize Yourself. What motivates you? Money? Medals? Recognition? Designer purses? Figure out what does motivate you, and leverage it against yourself. I personally love medals. I’ve received only a handful in my life (most for reading and solving math equations) which may be why I get so much value from them. Medals are a great motivating force for me to run. I just completed my first half marathon in August, and the medal is proudly displayed on my desk!

• Stretch and Roll. Stretching and “rolling out” via a soft foam roller are critical to keeping your body in good shape and to keep you limber enough to work out day after day, even if your muscles are fatigued.

• Go Shopping. It may sound silly, but having workout clothes that you like wearing will encourage you to actually work out in them. With so many amazing athletic-leisure brands on the market, this should be an easy (and fun) strategy to tackle.

Remember, without your health, you have nothing. Make exercise a priority – and if you need to buy a few new workout outfits to do it, then do that. Happy exercising!