Do you have such a busy schedule that you struggle to stay fit? Well I have great news for you, if you can spare 10 minutes you will be able to increase your energy with this quick cardio routine that can be done ANYWHERE!

What can really be done in 10 minutes right? Well you can in fact get a great workout in, in only 10 minutes. Adding exercise to your daily routines can have so many added benefits to your day even if it only for a short amount of time. We will make the best with what you have to offer even if it is only 10 minutes.

The Ultimate 10 Minute Routine

Start by warming up with a dynamic stretch routine. This form of stretching will loosen up your body and your muscles from your head down to your toes. Your movements should flow and be slow.

Here we go:

• Arm Circles while marching on the spot for 30 seconds.
• High Knee March while swinging your arms for 30 seconds.
• Calf Raises (10) by standing with your feet shoulder width apart and rising up onto your toes, holding for a second, then lowering back down.
• Squats (10) by standing with your feet shoulder width apart and toes pointed forward.  Sit back as if you are going to sit in a chair, hold for a second, then – leading with your hips – come back to standing.
• Shallow Lunges (10) A lunge is simply a step forward and then a step back with one leg. Put your hands on your hips, keep a nice straight back and take an exaggerated step forward, lowering your back knee toward the ground. Hold the lunge for two seconds and then step back. Repeat with the other leg.
• Jog in place for 30 seconds.

This will give you a great warm up. You will feel your muscles turned on, you will have your balance challenged, your coordination challenged and your flexibility challenged. Now it’s time to start your cardio workout. Do each exercise for 30 seconds then move onto the next exercise.

Here we go:

Exercise 1. March in place (as you did in your warm up)

Exercise 2. Shallow squats with front arm raise. As you lower your body, lift both arms in front of you, parallel to the floor and hold. Lead with the hips. Come up and lower your arms down to the side.

Exercise 3. Jog in place (I’m pretty sure you know how to do this one!)

Exercise 4. Slightly deeper squats with shoulder press. Lower your body with your arms folded in toward your chest. As you come up, do a traditional shoulder press and reach up your hands as high as you can above your head.

Exercise 5. Jumping jacks. Arms can come out to shoulder height or overhead.

Exercise 6. Split squat right side with lateral arm raise. Place one foot in front of the other, in lunge position, arms by your side. Come down, keeping both feet in position, lift your arms and come back up. Keep repeating for 30 seconds.

Exercise 7. Jumping or stepping from side to side.

Exercise 8. Split squat left side with shoulder shrug. Putting the opposite foot in front from exercise 6, come down with arms hanging straight down. As you come up, keeping both feet in position, shrug both your shoulders. Keep repeating for 30 seconds.

Repeat this sequence if you can and then follow it up by a few minutes of cool down stretching.

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You don’t have to follow this cardio routine exactly; just have fun and be creative for 10 minutes. If you are certain that you just don’t have 10 minutes in your day to workout, then I challenge you to do it right when you wake up. Get out of bed and start going… Don’t think just do!

Share with me in the comments how much 10 minutes of activity in the morning improves your day.