Fitness should an important part of anyone’s life. It does wonders for your body, keeping it fit and healthy, and giving you more energy. Yet many people find it difficult to exercise regularly in their hectic schedule. This article includes helpful, easy tips for you to learn how to exercise efficiently in a small amount of time.

While exercising, find something that will take your mind off of the physical activity you’re doing. The reason people listen to music or watch television while working out is that it tricks your brain into thinking the time has flown by. Find a playlist you enjoy, or bring a book with you while on the treadmill.

If you choose running or walking as your exercise make sure that you wear shoes that are comfortable and fit you properly. Shoes that don’t fit properly can, at best, leave you with painful blisters by the time you’re done walking or running. At worst they can trip you up and cause you to twist your ankle.

When you’re looking to increase your overall fitness, give your body adequate breaks between workouts. One common mistake people make, is working their abdominal muscles daily. However, fitness experts warn that your abdominal muscles should only be worked two to three times a week, in order to promote proper muscle development and minimize the risk of strain.

To improve how fast you can swim, work on making your ankles more flexible. Use short exercises like alternately pointing your toes and then flexing your feet for a minute or so to increase flexibility. This will make your feet better at moving you quickly through the water just as water creatures’ flippers propel them.

Although this article might make it sound easy, the most important part is effort and perseverence. Working out can be fun and easy, but it also requires persistent effort to achieve any results. So, turn off the TV and get off the couch, go to the gym, and start exercising.