Working, Walking, And The Web: How To Surf And Get Fit At The Same Time

How many of us lament that there's just not enough time to get through everything on our daily task list? Shopping, working out, responding to email, planning vacations, researching that new car you're thinking of leasing... they all take time and it's more than likely that by the end of the night, something didn't get done.

Best solution: Maximize your efficiency by multi-tasking.

Set the stage for success. Decide first what sort of fitness routine to commit to. According to the U.S. Surgeon General and the American College of Sports Medicine, the average adult should engage in a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity up to seven days a week. Translation? Walk, bike, or cross-train for a half hour every single day. Once you've decided what kind of exercise you're going to do, purchase or lease the fitness equipment you need to accomplish your goal. Used fitness equipment, because many people buy the equipment and never use it, is usually a pretty good bargain. Try ebay, classifieds in the newspaper, or even watch for commercial gyms to upgrade their equipment (many replace their cardio equipment every two years).

Create a compatible work station. Since you probably won't be able to set up a treadmill next to your desk, bring the desk to the treadmill! We suggest purchasing a mobile, compact fusion cart to support your laptop or monitor and using that when you're on the treadmill. One of the best we've seen online is the Laptop Fusion Cart from Versatables.com. At $299.00, it includes a height-adjustable laptop tray, steel casters for easily mobility, and an additional platform for a printer, keyboard, or water bottle.

Plan your half hour to maximize results. During your day, organize your tasks so that you can reserve your "less focused" activities for work out time. For example, instead of wasting time during your work day perusing the internet in search for a birthday gift for your brother, save that task for when you're on the treadmill. By completing the more important tasks during work time, you'll be more efficient both on and off the treadmill.

Use your computer to make your workouts enjoyable. If you don't want to return emails or surf while you're walking, download some upbeat music or a podcast to your laptop. Or pop in a dvd you've been meaning to watch (six workout sessions a week equals two movies you wouldn't otherwise have time to watch). Or sign up for a happy-neuron.com account and exercise your brain while you exercise your body! Regardless of what you choose to do on your laptop-work, shop, relax, play-- the goal is to get fit without getting behind.