Today’s lifestyles are at such a high pace that it seems that people do not have enough hours in a day to do everything that they have planned to do. Everywhere people go, whatever they’re doing, they are always in a hurry trying to save time. Whether people are trying to save time grocery shopping or in their household chores, saving precious minutes in the gym and putting in a descent workout is no different. Although there’s never an excuse for sloppy exercise technique, there are dozens of safe ways to shave time from your workout routine while still having an energizing and fulfilling workout. Here are some of the most effective time-saving strategies.
- Early Riser
in most gyms, there are usually fewer people training in the morning. What this means is there is less socializing time and faster access to the weight stations. Training before breakfast is also better for you because you will be burning off stored fat calories by using them as your energy fuel. - Bring a Water Bottle
Instead of running to water fountain every-time you need water, why not just bring a water bottle? There are a lot of people out there that only go for water after each exercise because they don’t want to walk all that way after each set. With a water bottle, not only do you save time, but you keep your body properly hydrated, resulting in better workout performance. - Stretch and Warm Up
People go into the gym and start hitting the weights right away without even any thought of warming up or stretching. By taking 5-10 minutes of your time to raise you body temperature, help get your blood circulating and loosening your tight joints, you will be enhancing your workout performance as well decrease your risk of injury. - Adjust the Bench
Taking ahold of an adjustable bench gives you the flexibility to perform a multitude of exercises amongst a gym-full of chaos. You can do bench presses, shoulder presses, crunches, curls, triceps extensions, upright rows, etc. You’ll have a much smoother and efficient workout when you have all the barbells and dumbbells nearby, so the only time you have to move is to grab different weights. - Polar Opposites
In between sets instead of standing around, you can really speed up your workout by doing one of two things; a) you can stretch or b) you can train opposing muscle groups during your rest periods. For example, after a set of bench press to work your chest, IMMEDIATELY do a set of pulldowns for your upper and middle back. - Limit the Socializing
By cutting back on the chit-chats at the gym and concentrating more on your workout you’ll be able to shave at least 10-15 minutes on average per workout. - Time Yourself
When you’re in a hurry, try taking 1 minute rest periods between sets. And about 2 minutes between exercises. Keep in mind that the shorter the rest period, the less time you are giving your body to recover so try to keep the weights a little on the lighter side. Keep a close eye on that clock. As soon as it hits 1 minute, BAM, start your next set. - Avoid Prime Time Hours
Working out during the peak hours, when there are a lot of people in the gym, can be an absolute nightmare. Waiting around for a weight station to free up is never fun. The gym’s peak hours are typically 10am “” 2pm and then again at 4-8pm so if you want a peak performance workout try to avoid working out during these times. You’ll wind up wasting time and wasting your workout. - Cardio Workout
There are gyms out there that put a time limit on how long you can use an aerobic machine such as a stepper, treadmill, elliptical, bikes and etc. If your gym enforces such rules one effective way to get a good 40-60 minute cardio workout without leaving the area is to have a 20 minute interval workout for 3 different machines by switching from treadmill to bike to elliptical. - Be Creative
If you are one to constantly workout during peak hours at the gym where you constantly wait for weight stations to free up. Try different ways to do the same exercise, for example; use dumbbells to do dumbbell presses instead of bench press or dumbbell squats, or lunges instead of typical squats. You can also have a great and stimulating workout using different forms and ways to do the exercises and it beats waiting in line. - Partner Up
Exercising together with your spouse, or significant other can be a good way to spend quality time together while burning calories and getting in shape. You don’t necessarily have to work out together because your workouts and goals might be different. But it’s a great way to develop a bond and to push and motivate each other. - Get a Locker
Getting a locker can save you a lot of time. You can keep extra clothes, extra workout clothes, and toiletries to help you out when you need to train in a pinch. You also don’t have to empty your locker everytime you go for a workout like you do if you were using a day locker. - Plan, Plan, Plan
You’ve heard it time and time again: if you fail to plan you’re planning to fail. Said in fitness jargon, he who walks into the gym and wanders around wastes massive amounts of time. Sit down and plan your workout routine. If you want to see results you should stick with 1 program for at least 3-4 weeks before changing it again. With proper planning you know what to do and what needs to be done before you even walked into the gym, can save you massive amounts of time. - Preparation
Just like planning you need to be prepared if you want to shave more time off at the gym. By preparing your clothes and your meals the night before you don’t have to run around like a chicken with your head cut off looking for things right before you head out the door.