Busy? We understand. Whether you’re studying for an exam or suffering through a long day of classes, it seems like there’s just never enough time in a day, especially when it comes to making time to work out! Because, seriously, who has time to hit the gym when we could be spending our free time binge watching Netflix shows? Never fear; HC is here with a few quick workout tips for the collegiette who can’t seem to spare more than a few minutes.
1. Get a pedometer
With all of the time you spend walking back and forth between your dorm or apartment and the main campus, the first thing you should probably consider doing if you’re pressed for time is invest in a pedometer. A pedometer measures the amount of steps you take.
Start off by recording how many steps you can take in a given number of days. Then, you can start setting daily goals for yourself in terms of how much walking you’d like to be doing.
“Keeping track of your steps can give you a fabulous internal dialogue,” says Melanie Ludwig, personal trainer and owner of Prestige Fitness. “Knowing that you reached the level you are striving for, you’re more apt to make better food choices and try to keep moving!”
Any time you start thinking about how miserable that long walk between the dining hall and the student center is, think about how many steps you’re taking and how much they’ll pay off in the end!
2. Do some interval training
This one sounds a little intimidating, but we promise it’s not as complicated as you think! Interval training is just a combination of high-intensity activity mixed with low-intensity activity. Think of it as getting a random burst of energy in the middle of doing something that’s not very exciting.
“If you’re outdoors, you can walk, jog or run for a few minutes, then stop and do some body-weight exercises, like lunges, squats or push-ups,” Ludwig says. “I would warm up with a five-minute slow jog, then crank up the intensity for five minutes, do a set of walking lunges, another five minutes of cardio, push-ups, then repeat.”
A routine like this can help you spruce up your walk to class. Granted, it might be a little weird for anyone walking near you to see you doing lunges, but at least your walk to biology won’t be boring! Try this less-strange-looking alternative: Walk to class as fast you as possibly can for two minutes, and then do a slow stroll for another minute. Repeat until you get to class!
3. Dance around
If you’re indoors for the day studying or cleaning your room, feel free to take a short break and channel your inner Queen Bey by dancing! “The key here is to keep your heart rate up and do something that prevents your muscles from being fatigued,” Ludwig says.
Whether it’s a rainy day or a lazy day, try to keep your heart rate up by busting a move. Increase your calorie burn with the interval idea above: Have your playlist alternate between faster and slower songs. You won’t even notice you’re working out!
Finding time to work out on a tight schedule can be rough, but with these exercises, you’ll be able to work out faster than it would take you to come up with an excuse not to!