5 Time-Saving Fitness Tips

The new year begins, and we all know what that means: it's time to reinvent and commit to new goals. Here are five time-saving fitness tips to help you stay on track this year. If there's any reason to stop working on your fitness goals, time shouldn't be one of them. Try these time-saving tips to help you maintain your fitness goals year-round!

Tip #1: Schedule Your Workout

Scheduling an appointment with yourself for your health is a great way to make sure your workout is going. Choose the time that works best for you. Maybe first thing in the morning, during your lunch hour, or stop at the gym on your way home. Whenever possible, make your daily meetings non-negotiable. By scheduling your workout and sticking to it, you're less likely to argue with yourself about getting it done. If you know exactly what you plan to do every day, you're less likely to skip it.

Tip #2: Only do 20-minute workouts

Here's a fun fact: You don't need to spend hours in the gym to get good grades. Just because you don't have 60+ minutes to take a spin class doesn't mean you shouldn't spend 20 minutes on a bike. Maybe that hot yoga class just doesn't fit your schedule. It's ok! In the gym, you can do a lot in 20 minutes.

Another option - interrupt your workout during the day if you need to. Work out for 10 to 15 minutes in the morning and 10 to 15 minutes later. Any action you do is better than nothing!

Tip #3: Do compound exercises

Compound exercises allow you to get the most out of your workout. You can use large muscle groups together, burn more calories and use your time efficiently.

Squat presses, lunges with bicep curls, and planks are all muscle-intensive movements. These types of movements are far more effective than small, isolated movements like tricep kickbacks or crunches. Perform these compound movements in a circuit style with minimal recovery time between sets to maximize your time - and get the cardio benefits in your strength training sessions!

Tip #4: Carry a bag with you

If you prefer working out at the gym rather than at home, be sure to bring a bag with you - preferably in the car. So many well-meaning people plan to go to the gym only to find that they forgot their socks/shoes/sports bra/deodorant. Keep your gym clothes, shoes, deodorant, hair bands, dry shampoo, yoga mats, and anything else you need in your trunk or doorway so you're always ready.

Tip #5: Stock up on portable protein and snacks

Your workout will be more effective if you eat a carbohydrate-rich snack before your heart rate increases. My typical snack is a banana because it fills my stomach and gives me healthy energy. Apples, almonds and even snack bars can give you the energy you need for a quick workout. After you've used up your muscles, be sure to repair them with a protein source.