Who isn’t busy these days? Between your 9-5 job and family obligations, everyone is short on time! This often leads to exercise getting skipped altogether, which is not a good idea. In this post, we’ll share some quick exercise tips that you can use even when you’re completely pressed for time. After all, you’ve got to make time to take care of yourself, right?
Today, we all lead super fast-paced lives as we try to get more done in less time, and often, exercise is the first item to drop off our “to-do” lists. However, exercise has countless health benefits that you shouldn’t ignore.
Let’s discuss why you should prioritize exercise in your day and share some tips for fitting in a workout even when you’re strapped for time.
We all know exercise is worth it—it can even save you time during the day. But it can still be challenging to fit it into your schedule. Here are some tips to make it easier to include a workout in your busy day.
1. **High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT):**
HIIT is a workout technique that involves short, intense bursts of exercise, such as sprints, for 30 seconds to 2 minutes, followed by a brief recovery period. Repeat this cycle for about 20 minutes, and you’ve got a serious workout in a short amount of time. These workouts not only speed up your metabolism but also help you burn calories long after you’ve finished exercising.
2. **7-Minute Workouts:**
If you don’t have 20 minutes, how about 7? There are various 7-minute workout apps available that guide you through an intense, full-body workout in just 7 minutes.
3. **Incidental Exercise:**
Get off the bus a stop earlier, take the stairs instead of the elevator, or walk to the stores rather than driving. Small changes can add up and make a significant difference to your health. Walking promotes strong bones, improves balance, increases muscle strength and endurance, helps you lose fat, and lowers stress. Use a pedometer to track your steps, aiming for 12,000 steps a day, and watch your body transform.
4. **Walking Meetings:**
If your workplace allows it, try to combine meetings with a walk. Walking meetings help minimize distractions and let you focus on the discussion while getting some exercise in.
5. **Desk Workouts:**
If you’re getting up from your desk to make coffee, do 20 calf raises while waiting for the kettle to boil, or try squats while hanging out laundry. Even 10 pushups against the kitchen counter while doing dishes can add up over time.
6. **Active Chores:**
Turn household tasks like vacuuming or mowing the lawn into a workout by increasing the intensity a bit.
7. **Prioritize and Schedule:**
Treat your exercise time like an important meeting. Block it out on your calendar so everyone knows you’re unavailable at that time. Sticking to this non-negotiable schedule can make all the difference. Waking up an hour earlier can also provide the extra time needed for workouts a few times a week.
Hopefully, these quick exercise tips have given you some ideas on how to squeeze a workout into your day.
Any questions or favorite workouts that fit into your busy day? Share your quick exercise tips in the comments below.