10 Times I Was Too Busy to Exercise

10 Times I Was ‘Too Busy’ to Exercise (and 10 Snacks I Ate Instead)

We’ve all been there. We mean to exercise. We plan to exercise. We might even dream of exercising, but when the moment arrives, something—no, everything—gets in the way. And what do we do instead of getting our sweat on? We eat snacks. Delicious, perfectly justifiable snacks.

So, to all my fellow procrastinators and snack enthusiasts, here are 10 times I was too busy to exercise and the snacks I ate in place of the workout that totally would have happened otherwise.

1. The “Too Busy Preparing for Exercise” Excuse

What I was going to do: 30-minute yoga session.
What happened instead: I spent 25 minutes finding my yoga mat, 5 minutes debating if I needed blocks or a strap, and then decided I couldn’t start without a snack because energy.

Snack: A peanut butter banana toast.
Justification: It’s basically a fitness food. Bananas are packed with potassium, and peanut butter is… protein, right? By the time I finished making it, eating it, and contemplating whether to wash the plate, I realized I’d run out of time to actually do yoga. Oops.

 2. The “I Need to Organize My Playlist First” Situation

What I was going to do: Go for a run.
What happened instead: Spent an hour curating the perfect running playlist. You can’t just run to any playlist, you know? You need a motivational buildup, a banger for the sprint, and a cool-down jam. This level of precision requires dedication.

Snack: A handful of trail mix.
Justification: Runners eat trail mix all the time. I’m practically pre-hydrating with snacks, plus I have nuts, which are healthy, and chocolate chips, which are… emotional fuel. By the time I finished snacking and perfecting my playlist, the sun had set. Tomorrow’s run will be epic.

3. The “Laundry Isn’t Going to Fold Itself” Dilemma

What I was going to do: A HIIT workout.
What happened instead: I looked over at the pile of unfolded laundry and thought, “I can’t focus on a high-intensity workout with this mess staring at me.” So naturally, I decided to fold it.

Snack: Chips and salsa.

Justification: Folding laundry is kind of like a workout. The bending, the reaching, the matching of socks—it’s all very physical. And, you know, after that effort, I deserved a salty, crunchy reward. Plus, salsa has vegetables. That’s healthy, right?

4. The “Too Many Tabs Open in My Browser” Problem

What I was going to do: A strength training session.
What happened instead: I had to clear all my open tabs before I could focus on working out. That one tab with “How to Build Muscle Fast” has been open for weeks. While I was at it, I fell into a rabbit hole of articles on how to train efficiently, making my upcoming workout even better.

Snack: A protein bar.
Justification: I was technically preparing for the workout by consuming protein. You can’t expect gains without the fuel, right? By the time I finished reading, I felt so well-informed I figured I’d save the actual workout for tomorrow when my mind and body would be perfectly in sync.

5. The “I Just Ate, So I Should Wait a Bit” Scenario

What I was going to do: A cardio workout.
What happened instead: I had eaten lunch an hour ago, and it wasn’t exactly a light one. So I decided to wait a bit to avoid exercising on a full stomach. Fast forward three hours later, and I was still digesting.

Snack: Greek yogurt with honey and granola.
Justification: Greek yogurt is packed with protein, and the granola is whole grain. It’s practically a power snack for athletes. By the time I was done with that, I figured I should wait a bit more. Exercise on a half-full stomach? No thanks.

6. The “Gotta Watch Just One Episode” Trap

What I was going to do: A home workout video.
What happened instead: I needed some motivation, so I thought I’d watch an episode of a show first. You know, just something light and inspiring—like a documentary on competitive bodybuilders.

Snack: Popcorn with extra butter.
Justification: It’s air-popped popcorn, okay? Totally a light snack. And the butter adds… flavor. Besides, who can work out without feeling entertained and inspired first? Once the episode ended, I was fully committed to the next one. And by then, it was clearly too late to work out.

7. The “My Shoes Feel Weird” Emergency

What I was going to do: A brisk walk around the neighborhood.
What happened instead: I put on my sneakers, and something felt off. They weren’t tied quite right, and the left shoe was slightly looser than the right. I couldn’t possibly walk with that imbalance, so I had to fix it. And fix it again. And again. And then sit down and rethink my whole walking strategy.

Snack: A granola bar.
Justification: Granola bars are made for active people. They’re like compact little fuel packs. After my battle with the shoelaces, I realized I’d spent more time tying than I would’ve spent walking. So, granola bar it was, and walking could wait.

8. The “Weather Isn’t Quite Right” Excuse

What I was going to do: A bike ride.
What happened instead: I peeked out the window and noticed it was a bit cloudy. Not raining, just… ominous. I couldn’t risk getting caught in a downpour without an umbrella or having my hair frizz up. So, naturally, I decided to stay indoors where it’s safe.

Snack: Apple slices with almond butter.
Justification* Apples are basically nature’s candy, and almond butter is like the workout version of peanut butter, right? I ate this snack while contemplating how the weather always conspires against my best fitness intentions.

9. The “I Have to Reply to This Email First” Scenario

What I was going to do: A Pilates session.
What happened instead: I remembered that email I hadn’t replied to in three days. I couldn’t go into Pilates with the guilt of an unanswered email weighing on me. So I opened my laptop, typed out a lengthy response, and then noticed 17 other unread emails. By the time I finished, my Pilates motivation had disappeared.

Snack: A handful of pretzels.
Justification: Pretzels are low in fat, high in carbs, and pair perfectly with email stress. Pilates is all about balance, and I felt like I achieved balance by eating pretzels instead of doing Pilates. Same thing, right?

10. The “I Need to Hydrate Before I Exercise” Approach

What I was going to do: A 15-minute ab workout.
What happened instead: I knew I needed to hydrate before any strenuous activity. So I grabbed a glass of water. But then I realized I should drink more water. After two bottles and three trips to the bathroom, I figured I’d probably over-hydrated. And I couldn’t possibly do core exercises while bloated.

Snack: A smoothie.
Justification: Smoothies are practically a workout in a cup. Mine was filled with spinach, protein powder, and berries—exactly what I would’ve eaten after my workout. So I skipped the workout and went straight to the recovery phase. Efficiency at its finest.

Final Thoughts on Being “Too Busy” to Exercise

In conclusion, I think we can all agree that life gets busy. Between snacks, organizing playlists, curating emails, and battling shoelaces, finding time for a workout can be tough. And let’s not forget the energy we burn just by thinking about exercising. Snacks are the fuel that keeps us going through those tough moments, whether we’re working out… or, you know, planning to.

So, here’s to all of us who are trying to be fit—one snack at a time. Cheers! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go organize my workout clothes… right after I grab a snack.