8 Expert-Approved Exercise Hacks for People Who Have No Time

Do you ever wonder what medical professionals do to stay in shape? Dr. Emily, MD, is a Board-certified Family Physician and social media influencer who shares advice with her followers about how to lose weight healthfully and sustainably. In a new social media post, she reveals how she stays fit and healthy. "Steal my 8 tips for a sustainable exercise routine," she writes, revealing her top exercise hacks.

Her first hack? Choose a rest day ahead of time. "Identify the day of your week that tends to be your busiest and make that your designated rest day (mine is Monday)," she says.

"The next busiest day of your week, commit to just a 10-20 minute workout. That way you won't feel a huge burden to complete a long workout when you're already feeling depleted – and the inevitable guilt when you then can't follow through with unrealistic expectations," she suggests.

"Divide your workouts into shorter chunks," she continues. "Start with a 10-minute morning walk, then take another 10-minute walk at lunch and finish with a 10-minute walk in the evening. Half an hour done- you probably are already spending some of this time scrolling on your phone!"

Schedule your workouts like anything else, she says. "Pencil your workouts into your calendar as if they're as important as a work meeting – because they ARE," she writes.

Find workouts you love. "Find movement that you GENUINELY enjoy. If it sparks joy, you're far more likely to stick to it," she says.

Next, she recommends checking out an exercise class. "There really is something out there for everyone, I promise. I personally love F45 and Zumba but I have plenty of friends that love Orange Theory, Cross Fit, kickboxing classes and endless others. If it looks fun and in your budget, check it out! This can give you a built-in hour of exercise every week that you don't have to think about or plan – you just show up," she says. "When thinking of expenses, imagine what it will cost you if you didn't invest in your health."

She also recommends workout buddies. "Exercise with a friend. Find a buddy and be each other's accountability. Make it fun and social! Try to change the narrative of 'let's go get a drink' to 'let's go for a walk.'"

Her last tip? Work out at home. "Having an option for exercise when you don't have to worry about weather or driving somewhere can really wipe out those excuses. If you have space for a machine like a treadmill or bike, etc, that's great but really all you need is an area the size of a yoga mat," she says. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.