Walking and running are two of the easiest exercises to incorporate into your life. Put on shoes, step outside, begin moving body. What could be easier than that? For some people, it’s the whole “step outside” part that drives a serious wedge in their plans.
And look, I totally get it.
You might live in a busy area without access to safe sidewalks. Maybe you just don’t feel safe running in your neighborhood. Or you can’t afford a gym and don’t have transportation to a running trail or even have time to get there in the first place.
I am a huge advocate of making time for regular exercise in your life, but I also fully acknowledge that some people face more roadblocks than others. Even if you have a safe neighborhood for running and a gym membership you may have time restraints, like school, a job, and a family. And if you do have time? Sometimes you’ll struggle with the thought of leaving your house. Whether you’re new to running and don’t feel comfortable doing so outside just yet or it’s too hot or cold, getting outside can feel impossible.
Which is why I totally think you should get a treadmill.
We all live busy lives, and for me I’m juggling work, college, kids in school, and a working husband who is also getting his masters. Making time to run is a struggle. Even when I don’t have to actively make the time to run (ha), I struggle with feelings of guilt. The thoughts of, “Oh, I should be doing the dishes,” or “I could get in some extra studying.”
Well guess what, I spent a couple hundred dollars on a treadmill so I’ll feel guilty if I don’t use it. That’s right, life hack. If you’re constantly overwhelmed by feelings of guilt about what you should or should not be doing, turn it around and use it to your advantage.
Since I don’t have an extra room that I can dedicate to exercise equipment, we opted for a relatively cheap folding treadmill that lives right next to my TV. When I’m ready to go, I pull it out, turn on The Great British Baking Show, and run while drooling over all of the bakes.
Walking and running both help reduce your risk of developing hypertension, and exercise in general can help you feel more energetic, manage your health, and improve your sleep quality. Knowing all this, I also know that it can be hard to find ways to fit regular exercise into your schedule. If you love to walk or run but can’t ever seem to find the time or place to get it done, go ahead and get yourself a treadmill, turn on Netflix, and get going.
Writer Bio: Caitlin Lane lives in Tucson with her husband and two kids. An active writer and lazy runner, she is currently studying Japanese and Creative Writing at the University of Arizona. When she isn’t busy typing on her laptop, she’s probably busy drinking too much coffee.
