Busy college schedule? No time to fit in your workout between exams, papers, and class? Don’t let school be the excuse to skip or miss your workout. According to The Lancet, people who exercise as little as 15 minutes a day have a 14% lower mortality risk than people who don’t exercise at all. Just remember, something is always better than nothing!
Quick at-the-Gym Workouts
Here are some quick workout options, that require dumbells or kettlebells, that you can do if you are short on time.
Workout 1: 2–3 rounds
- Pushups x 8–10
- Squats x 8–10
- Bent-over rows x 8–10 each side
- Kettlebell swings x 30 seconds
Workout 2: 2–3 Rounds
- Split squats x 6–8 each side
- Pullups x 6–8
- Shoulder press x 8–10
- Farmer’s carry 30 seconds
Fast Workouts That Don’t Require Equipment
No equipment, no problem. You can still get in a quick workout. Just because you do not have weights available doesn’t mean you should skip.
Workout 1: 3–4 rounds
- Walking lunges x 8 each
- Pushups x 10
- Squat hold x 5 (hold the bottom position of your squat for 10 seconds)
- Side plank lifts x 8 each side
- March in place x 30 seconds
Workout 2: 3–4 rounds
- Side lunges x 8 each side
- Bear crawl x 30 seconds
- Single-leg bridge press x 8 each
- Eccentric pushups x 5 (8–10 seconds on the way down; 1 second on the way back up)
- Jumping jacks x 30 seconds
Always remember, something is better than nothing! “No time” should never be the reason for not getting in some strength movements as a student. If you need more help for quick workout ideas, stop by the track desk at NIFS and a trainer can help you out.
This blog was written by Kaci Lierman, Health Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer. To read more about the NIFS bloggers, click here.