Please note that I am not a fitness professional! I’m only sharing my personal insight and perspective stemming from experience ♡
Do you ever find yourself wondering, “How long should I exercise?” If so, you’re in the boat I was once in myself!
I remember when I first started working out. There were so many questions that popped into my head, many of which did not have answers that followed. For instance, I vividly recall wondering, “Hm… How long should I exercise for?” and never knowing if I was ready to leave the gym or not.
I had little to no experience in the gym back when I made the decision to start going more regularly, so my curiosity was also paired with a slight amount of hesitation that came with my naivety. But over time, now that I’ve stepped foot into the gym time and time again, I’m able to answer queries that younger me would ponder.
That’s the beauty of time, isn’t it?! It makes us all much wiser through experiences, both good and bad.
For the most part, I’d say my experiences in the gym have fallen into the former category. I love the time I spend in the gym, but speaking of time, what should that look like? How long should you work out for? And how should you plan your workouts in accordance with that sweet spot time-wise?
I’m here to answer both of those questions for you! We’ll start by exploring the answer to, “How long should I exercise?” and then I’ll impart my insight regarding how to plan your workouts in a way that coincides with your goals. As always, please remember that I’m not an expert. Everything I share stems from experience ♡
How To Answer the Question of, “How Long Should I Exercise?”
This may come across as a non-answer, which I apologize for in advance. However, the problem with this question is that it doesn’t elicit a one-size-fits-all response. You should exercise for as long as you deem fit for you, your body, and your goals.
Some people work out for two hours per day, six days per week. Others are more than content with thirty-minute yoga sessions three days per week or fifty-minute pilates classes every Saturday. It’s all so dependent on you, what your preferred type of exercise looks like, and how frequently you can commit to working out on a weekly basis.
Planning Your Workouts in a Way That Works For Your Goals
They say that timing is everything, and I find that this sentiment applies to nearly every situation possible, including situations in which you’re planning your workouts. When it comes time to plan your workouts, you should consider how much time you have to work with.
If you only have an hour to dedicate towards your daily workouts, then planning a workout that will take you three hours to complete is not going to work for you. Likewise, if you create a workout plan for yourself that can be completed within ten minutes on a daily basis, yet you have a goal of working out for forty-five minutes every single day, then your ten-minute workout plan is not equipped to meet your goals.
Try not to overthink things like how to plan your workouts or figuring out the answer to the question, “How long should I exercise?” It all comes down to what will make you feel strong, successful, and proud of the work you’ve put in during your workouts.
At the end of the day, the most important aspect of a routine is that it’s sustainable. In fact, routines without sustainability are not routines after all. Instead of asking other people to tell you how long you should exercise for, turn inward and ask yourself, “How long should I exercise?” You know yourself best, and only you can tell what an adequate amount of time spent exercising looks like for you, so listen to your own instincts and plan your workouts around your own thoughts on the matter.
So, How Long Should I Exercise?
If you already work out, how long do your workouts tend to be? Do you have a preferred timeframe when you’re exercising? I’d love to hear all about your workout routine! Feel free to let me know what you like best by DMing me on IG — either here or here! ♡