As I watched Chris Banchero add 13 points and seven rebounds while Raymar Jose contributed 12 points and five rebounds for Meralco in last night's game, it struck me how these professional athletes make their physical conditioning look so effortless. Yet here I am, struggling to find just thirty minutes for a quick jog between work deadlines and family commitments. The truth is, most of us aren't professional athletes with dedicated training schedules, but we all face the same fundamental challenge: how to find time for sports in your busy schedule.

I've been exactly where you might be right now - staring at a calendar packed with meetings, family obligations, and social commitments, wondering where physical activity could possibly fit. About two years ago, I hit what I call my "wake-up moment" when I realized I hadn't exercised properly in three months despite having every intention to do so. The research is clear - adults need at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly - but knowing this and actually making it happen are two completely different battles.

What changed everything for me was realizing that waiting for large blocks of free time was a losing strategy. Instead, I started treating exercise appointments with the same seriousness as business meetings. If Chris Banchero can dedicate specific hours to perfecting his 13-point performances, surely I can block out thirty minutes three times weekly. I began scheduling my workouts in my digital calendar with notifications, and something magical happened - I stopped treating them as optional.

The second breakthrough came from what I call "activity stacking." While watching basketball games like the Meralco match where Raymar Jose secured those crucial rebounds, I started doing bodyweight exercises during commercial breaks and halftime. Those brief bursts added up to about 45 minutes of movement without extending my evening. Similarly, I began taking walking meetings when possible and using my lunch breaks for quick gym sessions. These small pockets of time, which I previously considered too brief for meaningful exercise, collectively transformed my fitness routine.

Let's talk about morning routines, because this was honestly my biggest hurdle. I've never been what you'd call a morning person, but shifting my workout to 6 AM created ripple effects throughout my entire day. The house is quiet, my phone isn't buzzing yet, and there are zero excuses about being too tired after work. It took about three weeks to adjust, but now I can't imagine starting my day any other way. The energy boost carries me through even the most demanding workdays, much like how professional athletes maintain their performance throughout grueling seasons.

Technology became my unexpected ally in this journey. Fitness apps that track my progress, calendar blocking tools, and even simple timer apps helped me maximize every available minute. I discovered that the 20 minutes I used to spend scrolling through social media could instead become a focused workout session. The key was making exercise more accessible than distraction - I laid out my workout clothes the night before, kept resistance bands in my home office, and created quick 15-minute routines for those days when time was particularly scarce.

What surprised me most was how these small changes created a positive feedback loop. As I became more consistent with my workouts, I noticed improvements in my focus at work, better sleep patterns, and increased overall energy. The discipline required to find time for sports spilled over into other areas of my life, helping me become more efficient with work tasks and more present during family time. It reminded me of how basketball players like Banchero and Jose must maintain their conditioning not just for games, but to enhance their overall performance and career longevity.

Looking back, the most valuable lesson wasn't about finding more time - it was about making better use of the time I already had. We all get the same 24 hours each day, and while professional athletes have sports as their primary focus, the rest of us need to be more creative. The question of how to find time for sports in your busy schedule ultimately comes down to priorities and perspective. I've learned to view physical activity not as another item on my to-do list, but as the foundation that enables me to handle everything else more effectively.

The transformation in my approach to fitness has been profound. Where I once saw obstacles, I now see opportunities - the fifteen minutes before picking up my daughter from school became perfect for a quick bodyweight circuit, the time I used to spend waiting for dinner to cook turned into stretching sessions. Much like how basketball teams continuously adapt their strategies throughout a game, we too must remain flexible and creative in maintaining our physical wellbeing amidst life's constant demands. The victory isn't in finding endless free time, but in consistently showing up for ourselves in whatever moments we can claim.