Online workshop participants shared 248 contributions to explore issues and solutions related to a perceived lack of time. Analysis of these contributions revealed two core themes:
| Core Theme | Total Contributions | % of Total Contributions |
| Seizing every opportunity to be active |
218 |
80% |
| Time management |
30 |
11% |
Core theme 1: Seizing every opportunity to be active
Aggregate narrative
I am overwhelmed by all the demands of life and also fail to see my daily activities as an opportunity to be more active. It would be helpful if I:
- walk more,
- take the stairs instead of the elevator,
- do a 5-7 minute workout during my breaks at work,
- replace car journeys with walking, and
- build up my strength gradually by doing short periods of exercise.
Example evidence and solutions
- Title: Walking
Quote: “I try to walk as much as I can. You can even make this a family ritual, but taking the whole family for a long walk on weekends.” (16 likes, 0 dislikes, 2 comments).
- Title: Every little step counts
Quote: “I am a single parent with two kids and a full-time job. At all times I am either handling the kids or I’m at work. So instead of going to the gym, I try to walk or cycle instead of taking the bus. Or I take the stairs instead of taking the elevator. I think every little step counts.” (10 likes, 0 dislikes, 0 comments).
- Title: Incorporate exercise into everyday life
Quote: “Exercise shouldn’t be an add-on to life. Make it part of everyday life. If you can walk or cycle to work, school, college, or the shops.” (6 likes, 0 dislikes, 0 comments).
Core theme 2: Time management
Aggregate narrative
It’s hard to manage my time properly. It would help if I schedule my exercise time into my calendar and commit to these times but this is usually impossible.
Example evidence and solutions
- Title: Make a timetable
Quote: “It probably sounds naff but I actually did draw up a weekly timetable for myself, where I put in designated times for gym activity. This helped me navigate through the various competing priorities in my life and meant that I had no excuse for not working out, as it was programmed into my day and I could see that I did have time to do it.” (6 likes, 0 dislikes, 1 comments).
- Title: Timetabling
Quote: “I have started booking in exercise slots in my diary, as with other meetings and commitments, with a start time and finish time. I look at them in the same way as all my business meetings” (5 likes, 0 dislikes, 0 comments).