Feeling too busy to exercise is common, especially for professionals juggling careers, families, and endless responsibilities. The more responsibility we take on, the less time we seem to have—but that shouldn’t be an excuse. Finding time for movement takes creativity and a mindset shift.
Charles Scott, an executive mentor and exercise coach based in New York, encourages a more flexible view of physical activity. He believes the mistake is thinking exercise must be a full hour at the gym. For him, movement is about intention, not location or duration. Coaching over 70 executives and high-performing individuals, Scott focuses on integrating “intentional movement” into their busy lives.
Though personally committed to extreme challenges—like running the Grand Canyon’s 74km round trip or guiding a blind friend up Mount Kilimanjaro—Scott recognizes that not everyone needs or wants that level of intensity. What matters is consistency and alignment between physical, emotional, and professional well-being.
He emphasizes that our bodies are built to move. When we neglect physical activity, we fall out of balance. His advice for busy people includes subtle strategies that don’t interrupt work schedules. Walking one-on-one meetings, standing during conferences, or discreet isometric exercises during calls—like tensing stomach muscles—can introduce movement into a sedentary day. These micro-actions require no extra time yet burn calories and build strength.
For frequent travelers, a delayed flight becomes an opportunity to walk and boost step count. Linking movement to daily routines—like taking a morning walk or doing push-ups after work—turns exercise into habit. Scott also recommends making workouts social, sharing them with friends or coworkers to boost accountability and enjoyment.
He encourages his clients to adopt the mindset of an athlete, to build resilience through what he calls “meaningful discomfort.” This approach fosters discipline and helps shift perspective from overwork to self-care.
One of his clients, Harry Kahn, general manager of Vermont Creamery, exemplifies this balance by waking at 5am to run, bike, or ski. Kahn sees his day in chapters—focused on fitness early, then work, then home life—without blending the boundaries.
Ultimately, it’s not about comparison but about crafting your own sustainable routine. Movement is essential, and even the busiest people can make room for it with the right mindset and methods.
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