If there’s one thing that I think most people are missing from their training, it’s the inclusion of one short workout per week.
I think it’s fair to say that most of us visit the gym for around one hour or more. Whether this is because this number matches with our lunch breaks, or because it feels like a length of time that makes the trip “worth it,” this is a pretty standard length of time for a workout.
However, you can reap a host of extra benefits from doing shorter workouts, too. I’m not going to claim you can get everything done in 15 minutes of training, but adding one to two 30-minute workouts into your week could be a game-changer. This could come in the form of an easy workout at home, a quick trip to your local gym, or walking with a friend (if you’re not sick of those by now!).
Here are some of my arguments in favour of short workouts:
Less Demanding On Your Lifestyle
When you’re trying to start the gym habit, every workout represents a disruption from your normal lifestyle. If you train for an hour, plus travelling and getting changed, that’s a hefty disruption to your usual routine.
By removing 30 minutes from that initial commitment, you make it much easier to fit in – especially useful for those days where life happens and you find yourself juggling two deadlines, a broken-down car, screaming babies and social plans.
Even if you are a well-established gym-goer, the short workout can be an effective plan B for when your usual routine is disrupted.
Easier on Your Willpower
Some people love the gym, but it’s normal to wish you were somewhere else instead. Many people feel that they “have to” be at the gym rather than wanting to, and begrudge the time that they could spend relaxing or seeing friends. While I would argue that you should never feel like you “have to” be at the gym, there are definitely times where it can feel like a struggle to get there.
Knowing that you’re only popping in for a short workout can make this a much easier decision. If you find the gym boring, then spending half the amount of time on it can make the workout much more palatable. It will help you to build up your routine without missing the latest Netflix series.
Granted, this is not the “hardcore” way, and plenty of people will tell you you won’t get results without spending hours in the gym shedding blood, sweat and tears. However, a no-compromise approach won’t do you any favours if it means you only feel like training once a week. Your commitments should meet you where you actually are, not where social media says you should be.
Short Workouts Provide Good Bang for Your Buck
Short workouts have a way of forcing you to prioritise your time in the gym. This can help you separate the essentials from the novelties and focus on what really matters for your goals.
A 30-minute workout is still long enough for you to achieve a sufficient stimulus, whether that’s a half-hour steady cardio session, a HIIT workout, a couple of sets on your compound lifts, or spending some time taking one or two muscle groups to fatigue for growth.
Summary
Programming one shorter workout per week has worked wonders for my ability to stick to a programme and stay consistent. I find that fitting this in to the middle of the week helps with my morale, although you can fit it in whenever you like.
This workout can be as easy or hard as you like – as long as you’re chipping away at your goals and maintaining a routine, that’s all that matters.
Thank you for reading! Why not sign up to the newsletter to be notified of new articles, and check out the Ready Steady Strong Youtube Channel for more training advice.