Can a 10 Minute Workout Be Effective?

If you’ve ever felt like there is just not enough time in the day to workout, you’re not alone.

Many of us lead a hectic lifestyle that leaves very little time to unwind, let alone exercise; yet, we’re constantly being bombarded with pressure to achieve a certain fitness level or body weight.

In fact, up until recently, it was thought that in order for exercise to “count” it had to be at least 30 minutes, and even that’s on the short end. This kind of rift between your reality and the end goal can make it challenging for anyone thinking about starting a journey toward better health.

Well, we’re here to tell you, you can start with what you’ve got, you can do it in ten minutes, and – wait for it – there’s no catch! Seriously.

Unlike most things that sound too good to be true, 10-minute workouts are actually proven to work.

Just this year, a study conducted by researchers at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, proved that exact point by studying the effects on a group of otherwise sedentary women.

They found, that exercising 10 minutes per day increased the subjects’ oxygen consumption levels by more than 4%, signaling a significant increase in cardiovascular health. These women also reported weight loss, gain in muscle strength, an increase in energy levels and even better moods.

Where Can You Start?

So what’s the secret? There isn’t one, except: get up, and get moving.

You don’t need an expensive gym membership or equipment to get started. In fact, you can do your exercises in the comfort of your home. The idea is to just get moving and keep moving for about 10 minutes.

You can start small and try walking around at a leisurely pace, or if you feeling more energetic, put on some music and try dancing around the house. If you have kids around, have them join in! Or, grab your dog and take him for a fun walk around the neighborhood or go visit a park.

With time, as you start to feel an increase in energy, you can try slowly dialing up the intensity level on your activities for an even greater payout.

What Results Can You Expect?

As mentioned above, short interval workouts were linked to greater cardiometabolic health, which has been shown to significantly lower mortality risk.

Within a couple months, your body will also likely gain better control over regulating blood sugar levels. People who have followed similar, short-interval exercise regimes reported a better clarity of mind and ability to focus; that’s not to mention an overall improvement in energy and mood levels. Also, unlike long, strenuous workouts, you won’t come away feeling ravenous and exhausted.

It seems the key to better fitness is just getting past our own limiting beliefs about exercise. So, here’s our last bit of advice: have fun with it.

Just because you’re exercising, doesn’t mean it has to feel like punishment. Ten minutes of activity can make a world of difference in your journey toward health, and even the busiest of us can carve out that time in our daily lives.

Go ahead, take the first steps and take back control of your lifestyle, ten minutes at-a-time.