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I woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and realized for second time in my life, work had quietly stolen my fitness.
The first time was over 12+ years ago when I was building my consulting business. Slowly, the hours kept creeping up. The more successful things were at work, the less time I invested in workouts, nutrition, time with friends, sleep, and more. At first, I told myself it was temporary—that I’d get back to it “when things slowed down.” But they never did. By the time I sold that business, I didn’t feel like myself anymore.
Fast forward a few years, and I felt that same pull creeping back in. This time it wasn’t consulting; it was a couple of real estate projects—big, exciting, and stressful. I wanted to pour all my free time into them, and fitness was getting whatever crumbs were left. I had promised myself I wouldn’t let things get so out of balance again. So this time, I paused and make a deliberate choice to find the right system that would work for me. Work wasn’t going anywhere but neither could my health and fitness.
I wish the answer was as simple as just declaring different priorities. But what I found was it took me a few years of experimenting with different tweaks and methods to find the right solution that worked for me. It took trial and error, but eventually I stacked together a few techniques that worked—even when my schedule was chaotic.
Here are the six strategies I used to get back in shape (and stay there) without overhauling my life.
Here’s how I made it happen.
One of the most important steps for me has been committing to a structured program. I’ve tried different approaches at various points in my life, and they all worked in their own way. The key is having something consistent to follow so that exercise doesn’t feel optional.
When you know what you’re supposed to do each day, you don’t waste energy deciding—you just show up and do it.
At certain times, I’ve hired a personal trainer or coach. This is by far the most personalized approach and often leads to the fastest, most effective results. Having someone guide you, push you, and hold you accountable removes so much of the mental burden of figuring it out yourself.
When I’ve had a coach, I showed up more consistently, worked harder than I would on my own, and saw measurable progress.
Another strategy I love is committing to one or two anchor workouts every week. Right now, my anchor is a Monday 5:45 a.m. yoga class. No matter how little sleep I got Sunday night or how busy my schedule looks, I don’t miss it.
That one class sets the tone for my week. It’s a psychological domino effect: once I’ve started the week with a workout, I’m far more likely to keep that momentum and schedule other workouts throughout the week.
Even if it’s the only structured workout I do that week, it ensures I’m staying connected to my fitness goals.
I’ve also started to use social activities as a way to stay active. Once a week, I host a workout that doubles as a chance to catch up with friends. It’s fun, and it gives me a second anchor point in my week.
These workouts aren’t always intense—they’re about moving, connecting, and keeping health integrated into my social life.
Not every workout has to be an hour-long, sweat-dripping session. Some days I’m tired, and I don’t feel like doing much. On those days, I commit to something simple: basic stretching for five minutes.
I’ll often stretch while listening to a podcast, making a phone call with earbuds in, or even watching TV. This takes the intimidation out of exercising and reframes it as a light, doable activity.
What I’ve found is that this small movement often jumpstarts my energy. Many times, what starts as five minutes of stretching turns into a longer workout because I feel better once I get my blood flowing.
And on the days when all I do is five or ten minutes? I remind myself that it’s still a win. That’s five or ten minutes more than I would have done otherwise.
Getting back in shape isn’t about finding huge chunks of time or doing perfect workouts every day. It’s about creating small, sustainable habits that keep you moving forward.
By anchoring my week with key workouts, making movement social, and embracing the power of even short bursts of activity, I’ve been able to stay consistent—even during my busiest seasons.
Start small. Pick one class, one workout, or even just five minutes of movement. It’s not about doing it perfectly—it’s about building momentum. The time you carve out for your health today can pay off in energy, confidence, and resilience tomorrow.
Justin J. Singer is an entrepreneur and real estate investor with a passion for wellness and human performance. Justin is on a mission to help men conquer burnout and unlock their highest potential through sustainable health, mindset, and physical performance. After transforming his own life from exhausted entrepreneur to thriving pioneer—replacing chronic stress with purpose-driven energy—he now empowers leaders and teams through 90-day coaching programs, transformative retreats, and bespoke wellness environments.
A veteran designer of performance-driven spaces like the Shadow Sanctuary and student of big-wave legend Laird Hamilton, Justin merges 15+ years of high-performance training with real-world resilience strategies. His work has redefined vitality for executives, athletes, and creators worldwide. Justin has a Bachelors of Science degree from Rice University and is an XPT Master Coach, one of only 8 in the world. Justin founded Mekanix Gym in Houston, TX.
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JustinJSinger.com | @JustinJSinger | Work With Justin