How can we feel less busy and get more done when our life and schedules run us into chaos? We’re caught in today’s pull between must multi-task versus mindful single tasking. Then we try them both, yet question if either is sustainable or productive.

Fitness Lifestyle for Busy People Podcast guest, Corey Grenz, CSCS, MS, CPT helps people reclaim their fitness amongst time-related excuses every day. While his clients have amazing goals and intentions related to fitness, like most of us, they run out of time. They find workouts, meal prep, and sleep getting inched out of the schedule, followed by frustration and a readiness to throw in the towel on those some day fitness dreams.

Corey takes it a step further, by not only helping his clients reclaim their fitness amidst chaos, but also walking the talk himself.

He’ll share his pearls and a few examples on what a two for is, how it is different from typical multi-tasking, and how it can help you in self-development, fitness, and feeling less stressed in your schedule that may seem to be running you.

What is a two for? 

When you combine a task that takes quite a bit of thought with a task that does not take much focus, you can often complete them at the same time successfully. This may also work when combining tasks of high enjoyment with those that you enjoy less. This allows you to overlap the time you’d dedicate to each task to perform the two tasks simultaneously to save time. That new free time can then be used for workouts, family time, passion projects, or other things you enjoy as part of your healthy fitness lifestyle.

How is a two for different from the way most people try to multi-task?

A two for is different than typical multi-tasking, as many people try to combine or alternate rapidly between two focus-consuming tasks. This is when we become less instead of more efficient.

Examples that work well:

* The commute & self-development

Listen to a podcast on health, wellness, fitness, leadership, education, mindset, or anything that interests you during your commute. For the average commuter, this adds up to 400 hours/year! This often works because we are combining a more automatic often less enjoyable task of commuting while a different part of the brain focuses on re-energizing with the podcast or audio book.

* Stacking up the two for benefits with cleaning & meal prep

Not only can we double up the podcasts or audio books with the commute, but also with cleaning and meal prep. You’d be surprised on how many steps you get in while learning. Even better, your house comes out clean, and your healthy meals for the week are ready to go!

* Low intensity cardio TV time

Take advantage of home cardio equipment, or streaming iPad/mobile device T.V. Performing low intensity, steady state cardio during your favorite episodes will make the time fly by while you are burning calories and building your metabolism. The low intensity cardio burns fat, while your brain uses the sugar as fuel, so you can often enjoy and retain visual and auditory information during low intensity cardio.

* Couch potato out, foam rolling & stretching in

Perform basic stretches and foam rolling to counter the repetitive stress of your daily activities while winding down with your favorite after work T.V. episodes.  Need ideas on what to do, and how to individualize your own program? You can find solutions for upper body, lower body, and core in the Mobility / Stability Equation.

Examples that don’t work well:

* Driving while using your phone

This not only uses similar parts of your brain, but is also very dangerous. Please do not use your phone while driving.