Jim Silva: A change to schedule is a challenge

Making time for exercise in our hectic lives is one of the biggest obstacles to living a fitter, healthier life.

One of the biggest keys to success is finding time in your daily schedule to work out.

Over the past few years, having a window in my day has been easy. I would wake up at 6:15 a.m., get the kids off to school by 8 a.m., then head out for a run or to the gym before showering and getting to work at 10 a.m.

A recent change to my work schedule has presented a big challenge with regard to my fitness routine.

I now start work at 6 a.m. every day, making my morning run a thing of the past (at least for now).

It’s taken a few weeks to become adjusted to my new schedule, but I feel like I’m making progress.

Here are some of the biggest effects of my schedule change:

* Working out in the evening on weekdays: Like most people, I am a creature of habit. Changing the time of day when I work out has been difficult. I always enjoyed running in the morning because I felt more energetic before going through my day. Now, after spending the day at work, I feel more drained in the evening. That makes it tougher to get the energy up for my workout. Also, that window of opportunity between getting my kids to school and getting to work was perfect for a workout. Now I’m struggling to find the right time to get out on the road or to the gym. I think I’m settling in on a routine that has me working out in the early evening, in between lunch and dinner. At some point I may decide to run before work, but that 4 a.m. wake-up call seems pretty far-fetched.

* Shifting back to mornings on weekends: There’s so much going on during weekends that evening workouts are difficult. So I go back to my usual schedule on Saturdays and Sundays – waking up early and heading out for a run before starting my day. I usually take Fridays off from exercising, so it seems to work so far.

* Different sleep pattern: I now wake up more than an hour earlier than before, so that means I need to get to sleep earlier, too. But that’s easier said than done. Trying to get to bed by 9 p.m. is not easy – there are just so many distractions (like Golden State Warriors games).

I’ve dozed off on the couch a few times in the afternoon/evening, and not on purpose. Now I’m trying to be more purposeful in that regard – lying down for a 20- to 30-minute “power nap” when I get home after picking up my kids from school. The nap helps me feel more energized before beginning my workout.

* Eating schedule: Before, I usually ran without much food in my stomach, especially during longer training runs. Again, this made my morning routine perfect for exercise. Now I’m getting used to working out with a fuller stomach, a few hours after lunch. My eating schedule also has changed because I have to eat breakfast earlier or I really start to feel lethargic by 7 a.m. I also used to eat a pretty big lunch, but because I know I’m going to be working out just a few hours later, I’m trying to keep it light.

Making time in your schedule to exercise can be a big challenge for many people. But it’s so important to make time for your workouts so that you can lead a healthy lifestyle.

There are many great ways to make time in your day: Cut out a TV show, find a fun class at your local gym or make working out a social event by doing it with friends.

Adjusting to a new schedule is a challenge. But it can be done. As I’m figuring out, it just takes a little time and patience.

This story was originally published May 25, 2015 at 9:05 AM with the headline "Jim Silva: A change to schedule is a challenge."