The best workout gear if you’re too busy to work out

Finding time to exercise during a busy day is no small feat—and it’s made even more difficult by the exhaustion that accompanies the birth of young children, a busy work or travel schedule, and countless other life activities that can deplete our energy resources. . But it’s possible for even the most stressed among us to squeeze in small bursts of meaningful physical activity throughout the day, and having the right fitness equipment on hand can make all the difference in the world.

Even if you hate working out, there’s something for you. The trick is to find ways to fit it into your schedule so it doesn’t feel overwhelming. I find that having simple, versatile workout gear at my fingertips makes it so much easier to break away from my desk for a bit and get my body moving. I spoke with three professional personal trainers via email to get a better idea of ​​what kind of equipment and workouts are best for people with busy schedules who may also lack motivation, and their advice was extremely helpful.

Thea Hughes, owner of Max Effort Training, explained that a combination of bodyweight exercises and simple elements like bands and light weights are really all you need to get started. “I like a combination of mini bands, super bands and therabands to effectively create a decent amount of resistance,” she said. “They’re useful for a wide range of exercises, they’re super compact, travel-friendly, and they’re not too expensive.”

Like Hughes, fitness trainer Gillian Goodtree is also a big fan of exercise bands, a small weight set and bodyweight exercises, but added that “you can also improve your routine by using sliders or hand and ankle weights.” All of these elements can be incredibly effective for short, maximally effective workouts—think full-body compound movements with dumbbells like squats, curls, and presses.

Along with these ideas, Ariel Belgrave, fitness trainer and founder of Gym Hooky, also suggested jumping rope as “a fun and effective way to get your heart rate up… It’s also a great way to work on your coordination and footwork. “

Hughes noted that introducing any movement routine will have benefits. You can improve your baseline fitness level with daily walks or easy bodyweight circuits to increase your strength and mobility and reduce pain or stiffness, switching to bands when you’re ready to add some tension. “In the meantime, controlling your own body weight (think slowing down and increasing the amount of time your muscles are under tension) can produce positive results!”

She also pointed out that the best way for a busy person to use their time is to try to always do a full body workout. “Engaging more muscle groups, especially the larger muscle groups (legs, glutes) will require more energy and thus help increase your heart rate.”

Both Hughes and Goodtree said it’s fine to squeeze in mini-workouts throughout the day if you can’t commit to a full workout. “A little movement is always better than none,” Goodtree advised, and encouraged reluctant, busy people and parents to check out the many great digital platforms and independent trainers teaching online. “I recommend starting with something manageable (like a 20-minute workout) that you can do while watching a child.”

Belgrave added that “studies show that short bursts of exercise can be just as effective as longer workouts when it comes to improving fitness and overall health. Walking to run errands, doing squats between meetings, and doing burpees are great ways to fit in a mini workout. The key is to make these mini-workouts a habit and find ways to incorporate them into your daily routine. Some additional ideas include taking the stairs instead of the elevator, doing a few squats while you wait for your coffee to brew, or even doing a set of push-ups before you get in the shower.”

Below I have collected some useful fitness equipment based on recommendations from Goodtree, Belgrave and Hughes. They come in a variety of price points (most of which are quite affordable) and are all conveniently located on Amazon. Keep them handy throughout the day and see if you can get a little movement. Once you get into a routine, it will become easier and less stressful, and the results will be worth it.