9 Simple Exercises Even Busy Moms Could Smash

Experts say that adults, on average, need 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week in order to stay healthy. You can divide this number between 5 days, like a workweek, and you will need to do 30 minutes of exercises each day to hit the recommended goal. But our lives can get so busy, we can’t find spare time for workouts, especially if we don’t enjoy them.

Bright Side believes that a little exercise is better than no exercise at all, so we’d like to share ways you can fit in some very simple workouts, even in your busiest schedules. Multitasking has never been so easy.

1. Wall push-ups

You may instinctively associate the word push-up with the hardest thing you had to do in PE class at school, but worry not — wall push-ups are way different than floor pushups, and almost anyone can do them. What’s more interesting though is that you can do them even while you shower, just be careful not to slip. This exercise engages many muscle groups in your body, including the triceps, pecs, hips, and abs.

2. Single leg stand

Standing on one leg not only improves your balance but also helps you work on your core. You can easily incorporate this simple exercise into your morning and nighttime routine by doing it while brushing your teeth. Stand on one leg for 60 seconds while sucking your belly in to engage your core muscles, then switch.

3. Standing oblique crunch

This exercise is not only simple to do, but it’s also one of those workouts you can perform while showering. It targets the oblique muscles, improves your balance, and burns more calories than crunches done on a mat.

4. Walking

Walking is a very real and extremely underrated form of exercise. Experts say that we, on average, should get about 7,000 steps a day, but if that seems too high for you, don’t be afraid to put your goal at a more realistic amount — something is always better than nothing. Going to your nearby grocery store on foot instead of driving a car could be a good place to start.

5. Standing Russian twist

This exercise targets the muscles that help stabilize your spine. Its standing variation is simpler to do and to receive more benefits from it, you can do this exercise with some weights — but please note that “weights” do not necessarily mean heavy dumbbells, as it can be anything from a water bottle to a brick. By adding weights, you help build up more muscle (don’t worry, you won’t bulk up) and strengthen your bones.

6. Kickbacks

The name of this exercise is self-explanatory: you “kick” one of your legs back. Although this exercise is traditionally done on all fours, you can do it while standing, just lean on the nearest wall and bring your leg back, alternating sides. Doing kickbacks helps you build up strength in your lower body.

7. Hip thrusts

We have already covered the exercises you can do in the shower, so now let’s move on to those that you can do in your bed. Hip thrusts are a great exercise for building strength in your glutes and also to make your butt grow. You can easily do them in bed since all you need to do is lay down and bring your hips up and down while engaging your core by sucking your belly in.

8. Scissor legs

All you need to do for this exercise is flutter your legs up and down while engaging your core. You will feel the burn in your abs, but that means it’s working since it targets core muscles and glutes. This exercise can be done in bed without any additional equipment.

9. Contrast showering

Contrast showering is the process when you alternate between showering in hot and cold water several times. The benefits of doing this include getting an energy boost, just like a regular workout would, and strengthening your immune system. It’s advisable to do 3 full cycles of switching between hot and cold water and ending your contrast shower session with cold water.

What do you do to stay active? Do you find working out too difficult?