{"id":44693,"date":"2026-03-09T14:30:55","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T14:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?p=44693"},"modified":"2026-03-09T14:30:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T14:30:56","slug":"best-workout-routines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/best-workout-routines\/","title":{"rendered":"The 20-minute Workout: How Cutting Time and Increasing Efficiency May Yield Better Results"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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How many times have you planned to fit in a workout, only to watch the day fill up with desk work, back-to-back meetings, family responsibilities, and sheer mental exhaustion? For many of us, carving out a solid hour to exercise feels less like self-care and more like another impossible item on an already packed to-do list.<\/p>\n\n\n

That\u2019s where exercise snacking comes in. As traditional, hour-long workouts are fitting less seamlessly into modern lifestyles, many people are turning to shorter intervals of movement<\/a> instead. Exercise snacking relies on brief, strategic bursts of activity spread throughout the day, making fitness feel far more doable (and a lot less intimidating).<\/p>\n\n\n

A Closer Look at What Exercise Snacking Is <\/h2>\n\n\n

Exercise snacking involves short, intentional bursts of physical activity spread throughout the day. Rather than setting aside a big chunk of time for the gym, movement is broken into multiple brief sessions throughout the day, typically lasting between two and 10 minutes. Examples of exercise snacks include doing a set of squats while waiting for your coffee to brew, climbing the stairs during a work break, or knocking out 30 to 60 seconds of lunges every two to three hours. Each \u201csnack\u201d is efficient, purposeful, and designed to fit into even the busiest days.<\/p>\n\n\n

Why Exercise Snacking Works<\/h2>\n\n\n

Snackable workouts may sound minor, but they offer real health and fitness benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n

ISSA certified personal trainer Jenny Liebl<\/a> says, \u201cSimply getting up and moving, walking<\/a> to the mailbox, or even jogging to the mailbox can make a difference. Depending on the activity, movement throughout the day can positively affect fitness levels. Moving some is always better than not moving at all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

Exercise snacking is especially beneficial for those who have desk jobs. Liebl explains how snacking throughout the day allows you to stand up, change positions, and move your joints out of prolonged flexion. \u201cYou can extend those joints, improve posture, get blood flowing, stretch, and activate your muscles, all of which help counteract the negative effects of sitting for long periods,\u201d she says. \u201cGetting up five, six, or seven times a day, or even just two or three times a day, can make a meaningful difference in fitness if they aren\u2019t doing that already.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

Those who incorporate consistent snacking into their routine are seeing results, too. Growing research shows that short, frequent activity breaks can stabilize glucose levels, support heart health, build strength<\/a>, and enhance cognitive function, helping you feel overall better throughout your day.<\/p>\n\n\n

In 2023, one study<\/a> examined 26 female participants stair climbing in sets of 20-second bursts (followed by two-minute recovery periods). After four weeks of consistent activity, data revealed not only a reduction in BMI but an improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness.<\/p>\n\n\n

When it comes to exercise snacks, efficiency matters most. You don\u2019t need 45 uninterrupted minutes to see and feel the benefits; instead, utilize the intensity of your workout to make it more beneficial in less time.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

What Movements Work Best for Exercise Snacking?<\/h2>\n\n\n

Always keep in mind: exercise snacking thrives on simplicity. These movement categories fit perfectly for these types of intervals:<\/p>\n\n\n

Lower Body<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n