10 Tips for Making the Most of Your Gym Time

Spring is right around the corner and for many people work is picking up, holidays are on the horizon and time to make it to the gym can be more challenging to find. Remember it is not all or nothing! Here are 10 tips for getting the most from your work out when we are pressed for time:

1. Pack your gym bag the night before. Have everything ready to go in morning or right from work. Keep it organized so that finding those head phones and socks don’t require turning the bag inside out!


2. Turn off your cell phone or leave it in your car. You gym time is YOUR time; don’t worry about responding to emails or calls.


3. Have your plan in place; know what your workout is going to look like. This can save time by going right to the machines you want to work with.


4. Don’t go to the gym during peak fitness hours. Find out the slower hours at your gym and try to make it during those times. This cuts back on the time you spend waiting for a machine or moving around other exercisers.


5. Go to a circuit class such as ULTRA circuit or a bootcamp at your gym. For a 1 hour investment, you can get a full body strength routine in and cardio all at once! Talk about making the most of your time!


6. Use that talk test. Invest in a more intense workout and cut back on workout time. Increase the intensity of your work out by increasing the speed/resistance/incline so that you are able to “chat” with the person next to you but talking is a challenge.


7. Combine exercises. Use this method when lifting weights, by combining more than one strength exercise you get 2 for 1 and are done in half the time! Check out a few ideas here.


8. Work out on your lunch break. The gym has a light crowd, it will give you more energy in afternoon and bonus you can sleep in and go right home after work. Awesome!!


9. Increase intensity and decrease workout time. Try using the principles from high-intensity interval training or the tabata method to get the most from your time. You can read more about it here. Here is a video of a great 15 min workout you can do and be done with your day!


10. Cut out the time commuting and work out at home! There are so many great exercises you can do without equipment. Check out a few options of simple body weight exercises here!

Try out a few of these and know that you can make the most of whatever time you have available. Every minute is bringing you closer to achieving your goals and is a true investment in your health and future. Let’s make it a priority!