7 Light Workouts You Can Do During The Day
Are you ready to start 2020 off with a healthier bod? Don’t want to commit to a gym membership? Well, here are some light workouts you can accomplish anytime during the day!
1. Squats
Everyone knows that doing squats is the easiest and fastest way to a firm tush. Not only are they easy, but can be done anywhere at home, at school, or in the office. Just woke up and need to brush those pearly whites? Do some squats while you’re at it! Dropped a pencil? No need to strain your back! Just do a squad to pick it up. Not only will your lower back thank you, but almost every muscle below the belt will be more than grateful for the extra strength training.
With some time and consistency, squats will tone your leg muscles and even tighten your core. Always been a little clumsy? Over time, squats will grow to help you with your balance, too. And for someone who’s tripped over their own two feet too many times before, that’s a benefit I’ll take any day.
2. Crunches
While this may be one of the more strenuous exercises on this list, crunches are a sure-fire way to start getting some abs, and fast. You don’t have to commit to doing an absurd amount of them either to feel like you’ve gotten a full work-out. Doing just ten of them every day will benefit your core and start on that four-pack everyone seems to want.
Crunches are also a great way to get you up in the morning! We all know that feeling when you first wake up after hitting the alarm button; you’re lying there thinking, “How can I possibly leave my bed?” Well, doing a few crunches can at least nudge you in the right direction: upwards.
3. Walking
Now, I know what you are thinking. Walking is just another part of our everyday routines. We walk to our bathroom to get ready in the morning, our kitchen to whip up a snack, down the hall toward the stairs, and to our cars to head to work. In summary, walking is unavoidable. But what you can do to burn some extra calories throughout your day is to simply walk more.
Always in search of a parking space closest to the door? Try parking a little farther down. Enjoy the scenery as you are getting in those extra steps. On your way to class? Take the long way, if it won’t make you late, of course. Walking just a tad more than you have to will pay off in a big way, and is a great form of exercise that will be sure to benefit your body.
4. Stretching
Sounds simple, right? Well, it is. Some wouldn’t even consider it a real exercise. But as long as your muscles are moving, stretching falls under that category. Not only is stretching relaxing, but it can also help with your flexibility, gives you better posture, and can even relax the mind as well as the body. Who knew?
Penciling in some exercise throughout the day can be as simple as choosing to stand at your desk at work or school and stretch. While sitting is a more conducive stance to getting assignments done, making the choice to stand up and stretch here and there will not only decrease back pain from sitting but is also proven to boost productivity by letting some blood flow to your brain and muscles.
5. Foot-Tapping
Foot-tapping might be the easiest light workout there is. Foot tapping has been proven to not only help you lose weight, but strengthen your ankles and shins. You can do it anywhere! While you might accidentally annoy someone around you, when you’re waiting in line for coffee, seeing how long you can tap before your foot starts to give out can make the wait just a little more entertaining.
For those that are already impatient, you might not have even realized how much exercise you’ve already been getting!
6. One-Legged Standing
Now while this workout might seem a little far-fetched, standing on one leg for longer than a few seconds is no walk in the park, especially if you don’t do it every day. Like most of the workouts listed on this page, this exercise will not only help get rid of those calories but strengthen your legs like you wouldn’t believe!
There’s no better time to stand on one leg than when waiting in line. Because let’s face it, for most of us, waiting in line is just one of those everyday, unavoidable tasks. Whether you are at the grocery, store, picking up lunch, or getting some coffee, it’s unlikely you’re going to avoid a line at either one of these places. So to make that wait a tad bit more fun, try and see how long you can last with your foot up in the air! Kill some time and feel the burn while you watch the check-out lady put away those ten bags worth of groceries.
7. Sex
Yup, you read that right. Depending on how frisky you’re feeling that day, sex can be considered a light to moderate workout session. In my opinion, it is also the most fun form of exercise there is. From foreplay to the after-sex cuddles, sex can burn up to at least 200 calories! Of course, it all depends on the duration and intensity of the act, but even a morning quickie will start your day off on a healthy foot.
After reading this, you might even be encouraged to hook-up anywhere and any time you can if it means you’re getting a workout in! And no one would blame you for it. In fact, I’d say most people would even encourage it. As long as you’re being safe and consensual, that is. Along with being a workout, sex is also proven to help with depression, lower blood pressure, and boosts your immune system.
