Quick Workouts that Will Help You Establish an Exercise Routine

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, medical specialist, or fitness expert of any kind. The information provided here is to encourage people to find exercise routines that fit their lifestyles, according to the knowledge and medical conditions they have. It is always wise to verify your exercise habits with a medical practitioner, especially if you have concerning medical issues.

Is it difficult for you to establish an exercise routine?

It has been difficult for me.

When I mentioned to a nurse at my doctor’s office that I had been exercising regularly the past month, she asked, “How do you find time to exercise with four kids?”

Yes, exactly! That’s what I have always thought… How in the world can I find time to exercise?

Well, just like anything else important, oftentimes we don’t FIND time, we MAKE time.

Exercise is important for all of us. It keeps our bodies healthy and strong, keeps our minds sharp, helps us cope with stress, helps us have a more positive outlook on life, helps us feel better about ourselves, and more!

Carving out a half hour at a time multiple times a week to exercise seemed a bit daunting to me, especially since I don’t tend to be very patient when I exercise. I want the process done so I can move on with my day.

However, carving out seven to fifteen minutes seemed much more doable, and that’s what I did… so far.

Here are some short workouts I have tried and actually like. They help me get moving, get my metabolism going, and get me used to exercising so I can continue to improve my exercise habits.

1. The Seven Minute Workout
   This workout takes just that, seven minutes. It is fairly intense, involving 12 different exercises of 30 second intervals with 10 second rests in between the exercises. All you need to accomplish the exercises is your own body weight, a chair or a step, and a wall. You can get an App for your phone or you can find the exercises online, i.e. here.
2. Fit Deck Exercise Cards
   I actually bought these cards for my husband for Christmas last year, and now I am using them. I have been using the BodyWeight category cards, but there are many others: Pilates, Yoga, Stretch, Exercise Ball, Senior, etc.! When I go to exercise, I simply shuffle the cards and then start with the top card, continuing through the cards until I have exercised for 15 minutes. You can purchase the cards through Amazon or check them out at the FitDeck site directly.
3. Other short workout routines
   A long time ago I found these routines when I was searching for quick workouts. I really like the “Wake Up Routine”. It’s short and sweet and gets you going in the morning. There are other routines, like the “Quick Ten”, that are fairly simple to do. Check out the site for other routines.

For another good article about short workouts, check out this one on Becoming Minimalist.

Are you currently exercising?

What do you do and how do you
make time for it?