Can just 5 minutes of movement make a difference?

We all know that being active regularly is important – but do you realize that it’s actually VITAL to your health? Exercise not only helps people to lose weight but also helps lower the risk of developing diseases like type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. The CDC reports that in 2017-2018, about 42.4% of Americans were obese. Additionally, from 1999-2000 to 2017-2018, the obesity rate has increased from 30.5% of Americans to that 42.4% previously mentioned.

 It’s more important now than ever to remember overall health and get moving.  

Why only 5 minutes of movement versus longer workouts

Chances are, you’ve probably never considered just doing five minutes of exercise. You probably feel as though that’s not enough time to actually make a difference. Think of it this way; if you did 5-minute workouts in intervals throughout the day, it could actually make a very noticeable difference than if you pushed through a grueling 45-minute workout.

Healthline reports on a study, focused on two sets of participants with obesity. One set did one hour of exercise each day, while the other set did twelve sessions of five-minute workouts throughout the day. The study found that 32% of the group that did the short, five-minute workouts actually felt fuller through the daytime hours, noting that their satiety had increased by doing these interval workouts instead of a longer workout.

 Short workouts you can try at home

You might think your day is just too busy to get any activity in, and when you do have free time, you want to rest. No one ever said working out was going to be easy! And it shouldn’t be “easy”.

Some short, effective 5-minute workouts you can do at home include:

• Ab workouts, like crunches/sit-ups, planking, and hip thrusts.

• 40 seconds of squats with 5 seconds of rest time.

• Full-body interval workout including sprints, jumping jacks, lunges, and squats.

You can even get workouts in while on the go or resting at home! These include:

• Doing jumping jacks or getting down for some crunches during TV commercials.

• Parking further away in the parking lot for a longer walk to your destination.

• Get some movement in while doing simple tasks like brushing your teeth or showering. You can get some simple squats in easily!

Get Moving!

Even if you don’t do multiple sessions of short workouts in a day, the bottom line is even five minutes of movement a day can be incredibly beneficial to your health – even vital. Health is greater than any other thing in life, and the only thing keeping you going, so it’s important to take care of it! Be sure to make the time to get moving and make it a regular part in your everyday routine – your body and overall health will thank you later!

To learn more about how you can fit in short, effective workouts in your day-to-day life, book a free strategy call with me!