What if I told you that your busy schedule could spare you just enough time to work on your core strength? Would you believe me?
Most of the time, a busy schedule becomes an easy way out of having to make time for a fitness regime. It becomes a convincing reasoning to others and a justifiable answer to one’s self that you are already so preoccupied and busy that you don’t have time to go to a gym.
Recently, a 62-year-old former US marine, George Hood, has set a new world record for planking with 8 hours, 15 minutes, and 15 seconds under his belt. Considering his age and qualification, one must see that if he can do it, so can you.
Therefore, there shouldn’t be any excuses because many core strength building exercises such as planks are a great way to gain the benefits amidst your busy days.
How Are Planks So Healthy Yet Quick To Do?
It is understandable that sometimes we really don’t even have an hour or so to spare. But then that is why you need to be resilient towards making time and somehow being able to incorporate exercise into your day without having to go to a gym.
Planks don’t require any gym gear. They are a quick and easy way to stay fit and work on building your core strength, shoulders, back, and chest muscles. The good burn that you feel is an indicator of the plank doing its job. It is mainly about starting slowly and making time, whether it is 5 minutes or an hour, then gradually building up to incorporate a proper healthy fitness regime in your everyday life.
Tips to Make Planks a Part of Your Busy Routine
The following are some tips to help you in easily making planks a part of your busy routine without getting overworked.
1. Spare yourself 5 minutes every day
The best way to get started is by starting small—no need to pressure yourself for making it an hour or more daily. Make time as much as you can handle. Therefore, spare yourself merely five minutes every day where you do a minute or two of warming up and then proceeding to the plank position.
2. Start small and then gradually increase the timer
As easy as a plank looks in doing it really even is that easy to do. However, staying in that position without losing your focus is what counts. It is all about staying focused in a plank position. Otherwise, it would not do you much good. Hence, starting small would help you in building up the muscle power so that you can hold the plank for longer. But it is important that you gradually increase your timer to accommodate the exercise in its full form.
3. Hold the plank for as long as possible
By now, I am hoping you have become habitual of sparing yourself a few minutes every day. Therefore, this should be your next step in making planks the real deal. If you are able to hold your plank for 30 seconds, double it up. Try doing it with commercials between your favorite shows and see how long you can hold it.
4. Music really helps
Many people find music a great component for working out. So try and see if it works for you too. You can find amazing workout playlists on Spotify and YouTube that should help you focus and hold your planks for longer. It would become your downtime because you can enjoy great music while you spare some time for yourself.
5. Consistency is the key
Whether you do it every day or every other day, consistency is the key. If you started skipping or forgetting it often, then you may not see the intended results. Therefore, try to stay on track and make a fixed time in your schedule, where you give yourself 5 to 10 minutes accordingly to perform warm-up and planks.
Even many people outsource their work from dissertation writing services UK platforms to earn better grades but still perform poorly in their academics because they lack consistency.
Benefits of Doing Planks Everyday
Think about it, are you really too busy to work on your mood, strength, skincare, disease prevention, increase overall energy, and health? I don’t think so. The benefits are immense and endless when it comes to getting in some form of exercise in your daily routine. Let’s have a look.
1. Core Strengthening
Plank pose is known best for building your core strength. That is due to your ability to work all the four muscle groups of your stomach, chest, and back. It strengthens not only your visual six-pack abs but also the deep core stabilizing muscles and the hip and back mobilizing muscles.
2. Better muscle definition
The plank pose works for the right visuals of your body. That is why it is the best and quick workout for people who want to tone their already built muscles. In addition to the functionality of holding a plank pose, the isometric hold helps you build lean muscle to increase the body’s overall muscle definition.
3. Faster metabolism
A faster metabolism is a combined benefit that comes with a consistent workout regime of being it any exercise. So even planks are great to get a quicker metabolic rate given how doing planks boosts your resting metabolic heart rate and results in an increased calorie burn. A faster metabolism means that with consistent planking, you will be able to achieve your desired result, active body, and a good digestive system.
4. No back pain and better posture
Planking is also greatly suggested to people with recurring back pain. As the exercise allows your abdominal muscles to gain strength, the body automatically becomes self-sufficient. It doesn’t rely on the overuse and extension of gaining strength from the back muscles. The body instead becomes stronger and takes power and energy for everyday activities from a now stronger core.
In addition to resolving back pain issues, planking is a great exercise for getting a better posture. It ensures the strength of your spine, mid and upper body muscles, and as your chest, back, neck, and abs are engaging actively in the pose, the body naturally aligns with its original form.
5. Improved balance
The core strengthening, making the body more resilient and strong, and increasing your overall health results in an enhanced overall body balance. Planks increase your body’s stability for an improved balance and coordination of your body with its limbs. Planking allows you to learn how to stabilize your body vertically as it naturally adapts to it horizontally during a planking pose.
In Conclusion;
All in all, planking is an efficient, quick, and easy way to gain numerous benefits in literally no time. No need to go to the gym or taking hours out of an already hectic day. It is definitely sufficient exercise that can give you immense results without putting in much effort or time with a little bit of warming up.
Author Bio
Liza Brooke is currently working as a Digital Evangelist and Lifestyle Blogger at Dissertation Assistance, the best assignment writing service you’ll find online. She is a self-proclaimed fitness freak and likes to share her opinions online with a like-minded audience network. You can find her expertise on her blog.