Learn how to add exercise to your day without subtracting time from your other activities.

Chores. Meal preparation. Those short moments of limbo between the two.

You’re busy whether you are a stay-at-home mom, a career woman, or both. You have a million things to do every day. How are you supposed to have time for anything else in one 24-hour day, even for an exercise routine?

For example, you have just set a pot full of water on the stove to make dinner for the family. As you are waiting for that water to boil, you change loads of laundry into the washer and dryer, clean the mirrors, and set the table. When you come back into the kitchen, you discover that the pot of water is just about ready to boil. 30 seconds. The time is not long enough to leave the room to complete a new chore. You don’t really have time to do anything but wait for the water to boil.

Here are 5 exercises you can do while waiting that will promote a healthy lifestyle and your fitness.

5 Exercises to Do While Waiting for the Water to Boil

These exercises are not difficult or exhausting, but they will create results through your consistency and patience. Busy people will find these exercises simple and effective because they can easily fit into a day without wasting precious time. Here are five simple exercises that you can accomplish with ease.

Squats

First, you must bend your knees, and while keeping your feet flat on the floor, sink down to the floor as low as you can go. Then, stand back up and repeat. You can either stretch your arms out in front of you or place your hands on your hips as you squat to help with balance.

Benefits

This exercise will strengthen your hip flexors, gluteal muscles, quads, hamstrings, and calves. The farther you squat to the floor, the more these muscles will be worked and strengthened.

Lateral Leg Raises

Raise your leg out to the side of your body about 45 degrees from your other leg. To help with balance, you can hold onto a counter or any sturdy object that would help you retain balance. Once you have done the exercise with one leg, complete the same amount of exercise with your other leg.

Benefits

Lateral leg raises strengthen your hip abductors and gluteal muscles.

Incline Push-ups

First, you must support yourself on a counter, table, or sturdy chair. Then, position your body in a push-up stance with your hands on the edge of the counter, table, or chair and with your feet at a comfortable distance from the bottom of the object you are supporting yourself on. You should be in a “plank” like position now. Bend your elbows and slowly lower your chest to hover just over the edge of your support. Then, you can push yourself up with your arms so your arms are straight once again. Be sure your feet are far enough away from your support for this exercise to do its job. If your feet are too close to the counter, table, or chair, the exercise will not be as effective.

Benefits

The incline push-ups build your arm and core muscles in an easier position than a traditional push-up would. If your goal is to accomplish a traditional push-up, these incline push-ups will set you up for success by slowly preparing your muscles.

Squat Side Kicks

The squat side kicks are exactly what they sound like. They combine the squat, which was the first exercise mentioned, and side kicks. Remember to keep your back straight while performing this exercise. For balance, extend your hands out to the side or in front of you or, if you prefer, place your hands on your hips. Then, begin with the squat and sink as far as you can to the floor before standing back up. As you stand back up, kick your right leg to the side slightly below hip height. After your kick, return to the standing position and squat again. This time as you stand back up from the squat, kick your left leg out to the side. Continue the process, making sure each leg receives an equal amount of exercise.

Benefits

The squats will strengthen your hip flexors, glutes, quads, hamstrings, and calves. The side kicks exercise the hips, calf muscles, hamstrings, ankles, and feet.

Lunges

The lunge is a basic exercise. With your hands on your hips, you begin in a standing position. Now extend your left leg out to the point that when you bend it, the knee will be at a 90-degree angle. You then quickly kneel without touching the ground with that right knee and stand back up. Whether you want to alternate between your left and right leg during the lunging exercise or complete the reps for each leg separately is up to you.

Some variations to the lunge do exist. You can complete the lunge in a forward motion described above. You can change it up and lunge backwards, working out the muscles in a different way. You can also alternate between forward and backward lunges to make the exercise more interesting.

Benefits

Lunges strengthen the quadriceps, glutes, hamstrings, calves, and obliques.

Conclusion

Consider performing these exercises the next time you are standing in limbo between chores. You will wisely use your time and strengthen the body God gave you. As a busy person, you will be able to stay agile so you can keep up with the little ones. Staying active and exercising will keep your body limber and flexible for years to come.

About the Author

Mikayla Klavohn is a student studying professional writing. In her free time, she enjoys riding horses, cuddling with her cat Surprise while reading a good book, and spending time with her family and friends.