In a perfect world, you’d have all the time you needed to exercise, but sometimes it’s hard to set aside time for fitness. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends two and a half hours of aerobic exercise a week – a little more than 20 minutes a day – even a less than ideal amount of exercise is better than remaining idle. Next time you’re pressed for time, squeeze in a 10-minute workout.

• Strength Routine
Start with a 12-repetition set of back stretches: While standing, lace your fingers together behind your head so your elbows point forward in front of your face; lean forward until you touch your knees, then return standing. Follow with muscle-building sets of deep knee bends, push-ups, dips using your bed to elevate your feet, calf raises and leg raises. Wrap up your miniature workout with a set of bicycle crunches, a variation on the standard crunch: When you sit up, raise one knee toward your head, and twist your body to touch it with your opposite elbow. Perform this set until failure.

• Shadowboxing Workout
Warm up by holding your hands in front of your face in boxer’s position, vigorously stepping side to side for a minute, then add deep dips to your stepping motion for the next minute. Once you’re warmed up, continue your foot motion as you practice sets of 10 to 16 repetitions of punches with each arm, cycling through jabs, cross punches and uppercuts. Throw each punch with full force to receive the full cardio benefit of this full-body workout routine.

• Jumping Rope
After jumping rope for 10 minutes, you’ll realize it’s not just kids’ stuff. Start by skipping normally with your feet together for a minute, then jump from side to side for another two minutes. Alternate 10 hops on each leg for two minutes. Add other actions, such as jumping jacks, jumping forward or backward with each skip to finish your 10-minute routine.

• Walking
Merely getting out of the office or your home for a brisk 10-minute walk has its health benefits. Rick Bradley’s 15-minute “Quick Fit” program hinges upon a 10-minute stretch of aerobic activity, and he recommends walking for beginners. Although you won’t burn many calories in a 10-minute walk, you’ll receive cardiovascular benefits if you walk quickly enough to raise your heart rate.

Adopted from an article by: Wilhelm Schnotz, Demand Media, courtesy: http://healthfitness.frs.com