These 15-Minute Workouts Will Give You the Best Results

So I guess I have to stop telling myself I have no time to work out when I still leave time in my busy day to mindlessly scroll through Instagram. “Think about exercise the same way you would map out your commute or stock your fridge for the week. It’s all about setting aside the time and going in with a game plan of how to tackle that short but critical time,” suggests Martha Kaplan, community marketing manager at Athleta.

Kaplan recommends thinking about your schedule and needs that week or day and tailoring your 15 minutes to that. “Are you going to be sitting on an airplane for hours and want to get your blood flowing? A high-intensity, heart-thumping interval workout or quick strength-training session might be best,” she says. “Or do you need some downtime before a busy day of errands? Consider 15 minutes of power yoga. Hosting friends from out of town for sightseeing this weekend and want to squeeze in some movement? Work in a gentler, restorative yoga session.”

You might find your mornings are packed, but your evenings have a pocket of time to squeeze exercise in. Or maybe your schedule is the opposite of that. Either way, think about your daily schedule and what works for you so you can stick to it. Also, Kaplan suggests thinking about how that certain time of day affects you. “Exercising at the start of your day will help you with focus and intention for the day, give you energy and a sense of accomplishment,” she says. “Some people find they are more productive during the day if they exercise first. If you end your day or evening with exercise, you may find yourself more relaxed and settled by the time you go to bed. If you have had a stressful day, working out may help you unwind and let go of any tension.”

“Results come from the intention you place into your workout, not the duration of the workout,” explains Maeve McEwen, a NASM-certified P.volve instructor. “If you are actively engaged and focusing on your form and technique throughout the workout, you will see and FEEL the benefits—even in 15 minutes.”

Your form is everything, whether you’re doing a 15-minute or 50-minute workout. “In order to maximize your time, really focus on perfecting your form and being hyperaware of the movements you are doing,” McEwen says. “When you are intentional with your movements and have a better understanding of what part of the body is working, the workout will intensify.”

Both of these are still super important, especially when it comes to preventing injury and helping with recovery. “No matter how much time you have, it is essential to warm up beforehand,” McEwen says. “Mobilizing your joints and preparing your body for more dynamic and complex movements is the key to avoiding injury and sets you up for a successful workout.”

To maximize your time, Roup recommends you start with a short, dynamic workout and cool down with a couple of stretches. “This increases blood flow to the areas of the body you’ll be working in the reps. It doesn’t need to be long, but this will help the body ease into movements and finish strong!” she says.

“I recommend any workouts using pieces of equipment. Whether it’s a heavy ankle band or gliders or P.volve’s proprietary equipment, the P.band and P.ball, the equipment helps intensify the timely workout,” McEwen suggests. “These pieces of equipment are designed to activate your stabilizers and deep intrinsic muscles immediately.”

“Everyone is different, but if I only had 15 minutes, I would focus on strength training!” Roup says. “In The Sculpt Society class, the sculpt sections focus on functional exercises like lunges and squats using sliders, mixed in with hip mobility work to strengthen your core and glutes. This combo creates a long, lean, strong body.”

A little pressure from friends, family, or co-workers can keep you accountable. Kaplan suggests asking them to join you in getting a quick exercise in. Plus, working out with friends is just a lot more fun, anyway.

“Once you have decided the type of workout and the timing, create a playlist ahead of time with four to five songs that you love that total 15 minutes,” Kaplan suggests. “Your music selection will not only set the tone of your workout, but it will help motivate you, especially if you can sing along!” She also recommends creating an atmosphere that will help you get in the mood. If you’re doing yoga, lay out your mat and light a candle, and if you’re doing an interval workout, turn up the lights and the music and keep your weights nearby.