7 Easy Ways To Fit More Exercise Into Your Day
Regular exercise doesn’t have to mean hours on the treadmill – the best exercise regimes are ones that you can do consistently and conveniently.
If all you have time for is a quick ten minutes while you’re waiting for dinner to cook, then so be it. When it comes to activity, something is always better than nothing. So, if you’re pushed for time, how can you fit in small amounts of exercise? Here are seven different ways to fit more exercise into your day.
1. Wake Up Work Out
Instead of pressing snooze for a third time, how about dragging yourself out of bed to do a quick workout?
These quick energy-boosting exercises can boost your metabolism and energy levels in under two minutes: try 20 jumping jacks, run on the spot for 20 seconds, do 20 seconds of invisible jump rope, and finish with 20 seconds of high-knee jogging.
2. Mini Morning Routine
If you have time in the morning, try this mini-exercise routine before you head to work. Morning exercisers have been shown to experience more benefits than those who work out later in the day, including a bigger energy boost and a greater release of ‘happy hormones’.
Morning exercise also revs up your metabolism so that you’ll burn more fat all day long. Do all of the following for one minute each: squats, inchworms, front lunges, reverse lunges, push-ups, and side planks (both sides). Take a quick break, then repeat, and you’ve got yourself the perfect full-body workout in under 15 minutes! For more ideas on how to work out at home, check out these tips.
3. Kegel Exercises
Kegel exercises involve you contracting your pelvic floor muscles and can be done anytime, anywhere, so these are perfect for doing while you’re sitting at your desk. Kegel exercises benefit both men and women, helping to strengthen pelvic floor muscles. they also stabilize and protect the lower spine whilst helping to contribute to a flatter stomach.
4. Go For A Lunchtime Stroll
A 10-minute walk at lunchtime is the perfect energizing pick-me-up and it will help to reduce stress too. It’s been found that this is enough to boost your energy levels for 2 hours, so you’ll be less likely to suffer from the typical 3 pm energy slump and subsequent afternoon snack attack, meaning more weight loss!
Getting outside around midday is also a great way to get your daily dose of vitamin D, which is crucial for the body to be able to convert protein to lean muscle and burn fat.
5. Do Desk Yoga
Sat at a computer all day? Then try this office-friendly seated yoga workout, which takes just three minutes to stretch you out after you’ve been hunched over your desk.
6. Fit In Some HIIT
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is a great way to expel the added energy. Scientific research shows that HIIT exercise provides all the benefits of prolonged endurance but in a much shorter space of time.
However, you have to focus on resistance-based moves and really put the effort in if you’re hoping for hours-at-the-gym results from an 8-minute workout.
7. Get Planking
If you’ve ever tried to plank, then you’ll know that it’s a lot harder than it looks, but it is one of the most beneficial exercises you can do. The best way to start is by doing a basic plank for 10 seconds and then try to add 10 seconds to your time each day.
We’re sure that everyone has at least that much time free at some point in their day, so there are no excuses for not starting to perfect your plank right now!
Daily planking helps tone your body, improve posture, prevent back pain, boost metabolism, make you more flexible, improve balance, and release mental tension—not a bad payoff for 10 seconds a day!
