Getting a decent workout in when you are pushed for time can be difficult. With the school run, a busy work and home life it can be difficult to incorporate exercise into your schedule, sometimes it may feel impossible. I’ve been looking for workouts that I can do at home, which are fast and put me through my paces. Basically, I’m constantly looking for something that’s short and sweet but more importantly effective – with less time to workout I need something that leaves an impact on my body with the short time available. Home workouts are often given a bad reputation because they appear to be not as hardcore as going to the gym, but in my opinion home workouts can be just as effective and sometimes even better than thrashing it out on the treadmill.
For me, working out in the morning kick-starts my day and it’s done and dusted, meaning that I don’t have to try to cram it in later on. By going to bed earlier and setting my alarm a little earlier, it means that I can fit in a kick-ass exercise routine that isn’t taxing on time. I’ve searched Pinterest for some speedy workouts and sharing some of my favourites below, however for more inspiration check out my Fitness Board that I update regularly. These workouts range from 5-20 minutes, but no matter how much time you have available they should leave you feeling sweaty and ready to start the day.
Total Body Blast
Lauren Gleisberg has designed this effective circuit workout that uses your own body weight, which is great if you don’t have any exercise equipment at home. With 5 rounds of burpees, jumping lunges, triangle tricep push-ups and more you can get a really nice all over body workout in your own home. Check out the full routine here.
Good Morning Yoga Sequence
Yoga is a fantastic way to jump-start your day and this morning yoga sequence from MindBodyGreen is a wonderful way to feel invigorated and ready to tackle your day. This particular routine lasts for about 5-10 minutes, but you could increase this by repeating the sequence again. Get the full routine here.
7-Minute HIIT Workout
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) has become increasingly popular because you tend to get an incredible workout in a shorter amount of time. Bursts of intense exercise followed by short resting phases gets your heart pumping hard and challenges your body. This HITT circuit by Popsugar is a great all over body workout that only takes 7 minutes.
5-Minute Morning Workout
Getting a decent workout in 5 minutes does sound dubious, but this morning circuit routine looks like it will have you dripping with sweat. Each exercise is performed for 30 seconds before moving on to the next one and the circuit is repeated twice. The full workout can be found here.
Body Weight Circuit for Butt & Thighs
If you’re looking to specifically tone your lower body then this challenging 10-minute body weight circuit may be for you. Again based on HIITs, this routine will burn a larger number of calories than steady state exercise if that’s your fitness goal. Check out the full routine here.
10-Minute Tabata Workout
For a quick and efficient workout, Tabata is the way forward. This 10-minute video from Popsugar will take you through a sequence of exercises that will help tone your body and increase your heart rate all before you start your day.
10 Minute Mom Workout
A great toning workout for all those busy mamas out there that targets those post-pregnancy trouble spots. Most of the exercises can be done with your baby or toddler in tow – they make great weights while training don’t you know? You can grab the full workout here.
Arms & Core Hand Weight Workout
For this workout, you will need some dumbbells, but I think tinned beans or water bottles would work just as well too. This particular workout concentrates on your arms and core with a sequence of 8 different exercises that last for 20-30 seconds each and repeated 3 times. The full routine can be found here.
6-Minute Morning Workout
This short but sweet HIIT circuit workout has been designed to burn calories and body fat before you head out of the door in the morning. With only 4 exercises in this routine, there’s barely any time to rest, which ensures that you will increase your heart rate and feel fabulous in just 6-minutes. More details on this workout can be found here.
Get Up & Tone Up!
This workout is great for toning your abs, butts, thighs and core. It only takes 5-minutes to complete and requires no fitness equipment, making it easily accessible to everyone and can be done anywhere. Check out the full workout here.
There is so much out there that you can try to squeeze into your day. Working out is about more than how it makes you look physically, it’s also about how great it can make you feel. It’s definitely worth trying to schedule some time in your day for a sweaty 10-20 minutes to give one of these workouts a try.
These are great ideas, no excuse not to do any exercise x
Unless you’re really ill of course. 🙂
I am not the most fit person, and need to get back into shape since having my little one, but these are great tips and routines for a first time mom like me who is back to work and does not have lots of free time!
I think the most important thing is to start off small and just do what you can. Something is better than nothing.
This is great! I really love my morning yoga practice, but have been trying to squeeze in a little more cardio. This will be a big help, thanks!
I need to fit more yoga into my life! It’s a great way to start the day.
I’ve spent most of this week setting up some under 20 minute workouts for my ‘big’ sister, she’s been struggling with her weight for years now but can’t commit to more than 15 minutes. I’m hoping she’ll fall in love with the edorphine rush and progress to harder and longer workouts – I’ll have a look at some of the links you’ve added as I’m running out of ideas for new videos at the moment!
🙂
That’s so lovely of you! I really hope that she gets on well with the plan you’ve set up for her.
I personally love yoga and hope to get my specialist’s permission to start again when I see him next week.
I’m trying to lose 8 pounds (the weight that I gained after I got into food blogging :()..and even though I would love to walk those 8 pounds off, my schedule doesn’t permit that. I’m trying to hit the gym 4 times a week and do strength and cardio both. I need to start doing yoga soon though. Lovely post and you look great.
Thanks for this list! I really need some quick workouts I can do every day. My goal this winter is to get a lot stronger.
I love the sound of the morning yoga, it sounds enjoyable.All your ides are great.
I need to try some of these. I couldn’t do the yoga one because I can’t take yoga seriously for some reason. It just makes me laugh. But the others I could do!
I am inching my way towards being better at self-care and this includes working out. I have better success working out either before dinner or later in the evening. I’d love to do mornings, but it’s so hard to get out of bed!
I find if I work out in the morning then I actually bother – easier said than done with a 6 month old!
I need to try some of these, I never work out. Ever. Lol *hides*
Great workout suggestions!!!! I’m all about sit-ups and planks when I’m low on time!
Thanks for the siggestions, Jemma. I’m constantly looking for new programmes I could try in order to build up my fitness levels. I prefer do work out at home so your post is really helpful.
These are great ideas for working out. I need to get back into exercising, i’ve been lacking so badly recently! xo
Thanks for these. Much needed. Pinning these for future (present) reference
Girl, you posted this at just the right time! Time has been so tight lately, that quick, effective fitness is a must! I’m excited to try the Tabata and the Good Morning Yoga sequence!
My kids have started going to school full time , so i have just started aerobics & I am loving it .Hope it helps me 🙂
I have decided that after cubby is born I will try and get my body back to something I am happy with. I was never happy with my body after Hayden but I need to this time. I have book marked this post.
Thanks hun
Charlotte x
This is actually really helpful as I need to exercise way more!! I limit myself a bit!
Great range of ideas for people like me with little time on our hands.
I don’t do any workouts, but I do like long walks so I guess that counts as exercise.
My mummy never has anytime for exercise! By the time she gets a spare minute it’s too late in the day and she’s knackered!!
These are perfect for me, I really struggle with timings but trying to get fit <3
Time is my worse enemy. I feel like my time is so scarce that working out is a passing thought as i rush from one thing to the next. I think this list is great and I can’t wait to dive deeper into these workouts!
I am all about getting up super early and working out. Get the hardest part of your day out the way first!
I’m always looking for new workouts to try so thank you 😀 I have pinned this 😀
I do HIIT when I can’t do much else.Great list of workouts for rushed people
Bookmarking this post. Fantastic tips and list here. I really need to get back into working out
I really need to get in the routine of doing morning workouts again – i much prefer it to the evenings. these are all fab suggestions, I like HIIT and yoga x
I think work out in the morning leaves a great impact on the body. Thank to your post I got lots of useful speady workouts to get through busy days.
These suggestions seem awesome. Finally, I now have one more exercise to add in my daily routine – yoga!!
But I tend to think it would be better to start your day with low-intensity activities since they won’t make you exhausted after the working-out
I like to workout everyday. I tried a lots to keep my body be healthy that means i need to get my own workout plan and i did. I dont have much time to go to gym so most of workout time i spend at home. HIIT is the first excersice in my list. I love running and spent 30 minutes per morning to run around my area. Not too far:) Luckily, my body s not fat so just 30 minutes s enough for me before getting body workout like Glute, abs, back..
No matter how much time you have to do workout. If u have target and really want to catch it. U can get it!
Ur tips is great as well. Thks for your sharing:)
There are many workout effect that we can see every day. thanks to your advice, i know many kind of work out. i will start my own work out soon.
Love how all the workouts are speedy! I wish I had a treadmill in my house because I would probably work out more, haha.
Wow! What a great recommendation. Thank you for this useful article, Jemma. After reading, I decide to add yoga into my morning exercise.
These are great ideas, I like to workout everyday, I think work out in the morning leaves a great impact on the body, thanks for post These are perfect for me
Thanks for sharing! This post is very helpful! I’m a busy worker and don’t have much time to work out at the gym. However, I usually go jogging in the morning before going to my office. Recently, I did some blank and stretching exercises to keep fit. You can find out about the “blank self-training”, I think it’s quite effective!
I usually don’t have much time for keeping fit. I often walk to school or go up and down stair at home, instead. Hope they could help me stay healthy 🙂 Your post is quite informative. Thanks for sharing.
This is great! I really love my morning yoga practice
Your post is quite informative. Thanks for sharing.
They are all things, which I am looking for, since now, I can’t complain about problem whích is I don’t have time to go to fitness centres. I can do excercise anywhere and I believe I can improve my physique. Thanks for your sharing.
I am a mother of the son 2-year-old. I always feel tired with my work and takecare my baby. So I did not exercise in a long time. Thank you for your post. Great informations. This will be the motivation for me to exercise again
Thanks for your collection article! It is for all people with all purposes from whole body to particular part. You are right that for everyone, now time is limited. Me either. Therefore, your post is really helpful for me and others.