Exercise Snacking
I love exercise snacking. It’s one of the easiest ways to become more active without having to find a spare 30–60 minutes in your day.
Exercise snacks are exactly what they sound like – short bursts of movement that take no more than a minute or two. They might seem small, but they soon add up. A few minutes here and there across the day can make a real difference to your strength, mobility, balance, energy levels and even your mood.
They’re perfect if you’re short on time, work at a desk, or struggle to fit in a full workout. Try one while the kettle boils, during an advert break, while you’re waiting for the microwave, or whenever you’ve been sitting for a while. If you work from home, set yourself an hourly reminder and pick a different exercise snack each time. You might be surprised how much more energised and focused you feel.
Exercise Snacking + Habit Stacking
One of the easiest ways to make a new habit stick is to attach it to something you already do every day. This is called habit stacking.
Instead of trying to remember to exercise, simply link an exercise snack to an existing routine.
For example:
- ☕ Every time you make a cup of tea or coffee, do a set of countertop press-ups.
- 🪥 While brushing your teeth, try a set of squats or practise balancing on one leg.
- 📺 Watching TV? Get down on the floor and do some glute bridges or hip thrusts during the adverts.
- 🪑 Every time you stand up from a chair, do a few extra sit-to-stands. If that feels easy, try standing up using just one leg.
The key isn’t doing one huge workout—it’s finding lots of little opportunities to move throughout your day.
Have a browse through the exercise snacks below and see which ones fit naturally into your routine. Start with one or two, build the habit, and before long you’ll find yourself looking for more opportunities to move.
Countertop press ups
2 minutes whilst the kettle boils…how many can you do?
Sit Down To Stand Up
To make it harder, try doing it with one leg!