This may sound trite, but it’s true. 20 minutes of regular exercise every single day can have a profound effect on your life, your health and your lifestyle. With just 20 minutes a day, you can promote weight loss. With 20 minutes a day, you can decrease how much stress you experience. With 20 minutes a day, you can achieve the goals you set out for yourself.
Changing Your Life
Making a change in your life is about exerting a form of control over your life and your choices. 20 minutes a day is one of those changes that you can make and it’s one that most of us – even at our busiest can find 20 minutes for.
So if you are looking for a way to make a difference in your own life, here are some examples of what you can do in 20 minutes:
- You can, comfortably, walk a ½ mile in 20 minutes. Currently, one the days when the weather permits and I walk my kiddo to school, I am walking a ½ mile there taking a five minute break while she waits to go to class and then a ½ mile home. I can do this in under 30 minutes, though I’ve never timed it totally – that’s 1 mile in the morning and another mile in the afternoon – both miles fit into my schedule and for 1 mile (with the kids) I am walking at a slower, more lifestyle pace while the 1 mile (without the kids) is done at a brisk, fitness walking pace designed to get my heart rate up
- You can run a mile in 20 minutes and while I’m not a huge fan of running, you can do a ½ mile in about 10 minutes with the return trip taking 10 minutes
- You can run or walk on a treadmill in 20 minutes
- You can do light calisthenics including jumping jacks, deep knee bends, sit ups and push ups in less than 20 minutes
- You can go for a walk around the building or go up and down the stairs rather than taking the elevator in under 20 minutes
- You can walk the dog in 20 minutes
- You can complete one circuit workout toning upper, core and lower body at your local gym in 20 minutes
- You can perform 2/3s of the Curves for Women recommended circuit in 20 minutes
20 minutes is a coffee break for some people. For others it’s the time it takes to prepare a simple meal and for at least three people I know, it’s how long they shower every morning. You can do a lot in 20 minutes.
What can you do in 20 minutes?
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