I KNOW trying to strike a balance between life work and working out can seem daunting sometimes. There is so much to consider, like, when do I workout? When is the best time to work out—in the morning before work, or in the evening after work?

The thought of getting up even earlier in the morning, to jog/ walk especially when it is still dark out there does not really appeal, and after work, you are likely to be tired from the stress of the day and you have your family to connect with. Besides, you don’t really know how to go about it; you’ve tried it before and couldn’t keep up.

These are concerns, but are they enough? Let’s start with time. It is the most frequent excuse. Lack of time or when is the best time to work out? Morning? Afternoon? After work? Well, it all depends on the individual. I for one don’t have a particular workout time—sometimes I workout in the morning, sometimes in the evening; it all depends on my schedule and my mood (we all know how PMS can be).

Like every other important thing, you have to make the time to work out. If you are a morning person, then do your workouts in the morning; it might mean waking up a few minutes earlier but you will get used to it after a couple of times. What can you do? Go for a jog or a brisk walk. This might not sound like a safe option, however. A lady I know, Eniola who had this problem, decided to organize a walk group with a couple of her neighbors and friends that live nearby. They have enjoyed safety in numbers and extra motivation for over three years now. Why not try her strategy?

You don’t even have to leave your compound to work out. Do you have a compound or a flight of stairs? Well that’s all you need, walk/jog/run around your compound, up and down your flight of stairs (this is actually how I started working out myself; I must add that good music helps too!). You can also join a gym and work out on your way to work in the morning. If you are not the outdoorsy type, why not invest in a couple of aerobic DVDs’ and workout in your house or get a personal trainer (you can also do this as a group). My favorite is the skipping rope. You’ll get a fantastic cross training workout (this is quite high impact so get an all clear from your doctor if in doubt).

Working out at home after work I agree can be tricky—you can’t always determine how the day will go. However, you can workout before you get home. Join a gym near either your home or office. You can also go for a walk around the office while you wait out the traffic before setting off for home.

If you have to go home immediately after work, change into your workout clothes complete with trainers. My housemate funmi used to do this and found that she was able to snatch 5 mintues here and there in between her chores. The same options of working out in the morning can apply: walk around your compound or up and down your stairs, dance to your favorite music and have your kids join in (put some of their energy to good use) or get a personal trainer to come round the house (they are not as expensive as you think).

In all of this, you need to start slow if you haven’t worked out in the last two months. 10 minutes twice a week should do; build up to 20 minutes upwards.

Let me know how you get on.

Remember, love your body…and it will love you right back!