Quick and Effective Workouts for College Students

August 6, 2024 / Workout
Quick and Effective Workouts for College Students

As a college student, your schedule is probably pretty tight. You have to balance academic commitments, social activities, and personal well-being. As such, this can prove to be a daunting task, especially at such times as examination sessions. No matter how much you think you cannot spare some time and time to exercise, you need to understand that it is generally good for both the body and mind. In the flurry of lectures, study sessions, and other activities that come with school, it becomes difficult to stick to a workout schedule. But working out in college is essential.

Student exercise is crucial for your health, both physical health and mental clarity. Easy but effective workouts tailored specially for you come with a practical solution. So, wondering what are some options you have for your workout? Continue reading to find out. Students exercising is recommended, especially as they have hectic lifestyles. It helps you stay active, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being.

Strength Training for College Students

As a college student, you are probably living in a dorm. This means you do not have so much space available for your workout. So, you need exercises that help you make use of the small space you have available. Strength training is suitable for this as it can be done with minimal equipment. You just need dumbbells or resistance bands, making it feasible for small spaces like dorm rooms or campus gyms.

Sometimes, when you are so focused on maintaining the fitness of your body and clarity of your mind, you might forget about your tasks. This can happen anytime, as, during your most crowded times, you can easily miss the completion of one or more tasks. You have to study for your exams, write essays, research for your papers, and attend courses too. In this case, you can use the help of an online writer. At Edubirdie, you can pay for essay and you get the support you need. They have many online writers who are ready to offer you the help you are looking for. You can easily delegate your tasks as they have the knowledge and experience necessary to tackle any task and topic. Edubirdie offers these students help so that they can balance their academic and personal lives successfully.

So, you can focus on your workout, whether it’s at your campus gyms or in your dorm room. College students working out can be seen anywhere on the campus, so you can join them to keep your motivation high. And you can try these strength training sessions.

Dumbbell Workout

If you have dumbbells available, you could exercise for about 20-30 minutes. It helps you increase your muscle mass, strengthen bones and boost your metabolism.

Example Dumbbell Routine:




Dumbbell Goblet Squats



12-15 reps

Dumbbell Goblet Squat



Dumbbell Bench Press:



12-15 reps

Floor dumbbell chest press



Bent-over Rows



12-15 reps

Bent Over Dumbbell Row



Shoulder Press



12-15 reps

Standing Dumbbell Overhead Press



Bicep Curls



12-15 reps

Dumbbell Curl



Dumbbell Kickback



12-15 reps

Dumbbell Kickback



Dumbbell V-up



12-15

Dumbbell V-up

Tips:

Repeat the entire routine 3 times. A tip you should keep in mind is to adapt any type of exercise to your current fitness level. You should choose a weight that challenges you but allows you to maintain good form too. You could increase weight gradually as you get stronger.

Resistance Band Workout




Squats with Band



12-15 reps

Resistance Band Overhead Squat



Band Rows



12-15 reps

Bent Over Row Gymstick



Chest Press with Band



12-15 reps

Band Standing Chest Press



Band Shoulder Press



12-15 reps

Resistance Band Seated Shoulder Press



Band Bicep Curls



12-15 reps

Hammer Curl with Resistance Band



Band Pushdown



12-15 reps

Triceps Extension with Resistance Bands



Banded Leg Raise



12-15

Banded Lying leg and hip raise

Tips:

Repeat the entire routine 3 times. Anchor the band securely for exercises like chest presses. Maintain tension in the band throughout the exercise for maximum benefit.

Bodyweight Workouts

Bodyweight or calisthenic exercises. Extraordinary physical exercise for students does not require any equipment. This means that you can do them anywhere as you use only the weight of your body. Which makes them highly convenient and accessible.

Here is a list of calisthenic exercises from beginner to advanced levels. Choose exercises that suit you and create a personalized workout program with our workout planner.

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

As it is a high-intensity training, you can start by practicing it about 15-20 minutes. You can exercise for 30 seconds and then rest for another 30 seconds. This type of training helps you boost your metabolism, burn fat, and improve cardiovascular fitness. All these in a short amount of time.

Example HIIT Routine:

  1. Jumping Jacks: 30 seconds / Rest: 30 seconds
  2. Push-ups: 30 seconds / Rest: 30 seconds
  3. Squats: 30 seconds / Rest: 30 seconds
  4. Burpees: 30 seconds / Rest: 30 seconds
  5. Plank: 30 seconds / Rest: 30 seconds

Repeat the entire circuit 3-4 times.

Tips:

There are many tips you can apply but the most important thing to keep in mind is to modify exercises based on your fitness level. You can find online an ideal way of exercising, but you have to adapt it to how your body feels right now. You can start on a lower level and then increase the intensity of the exercises on the way. For example, you could do knee push-ups instead of regular ones. Also, using a timer or HIIT app can help you know how to adapt your practice.

Circuit Training

Circuit training involves performing a series of exercises in a sequence, with minimal rest in between. It typically includes a mix of cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility exercises, targeting different muscle groups.

Circuit training can be an excellent workout option for college students, offering a time-efficient and effective way to improve fitness. Here are some tips and a sample circuit training workout tailored for college students:

Duration: 20-30 minutes

Structure: Perform each exercise for 45 seconds, rest for 15 seconds, then move to the next exercise. Repeat the circuit 3-4 times.

Benefits: Builds strength, enhances endurance, and keeps the heart rate up.

Example Circuit:

  1. Squats: 45 seconds / Rest: 15 seconds
  2. Push-ups: 45 seconds / Rest: 15 seconds
  3. Lunges: 45 seconds / Rest: 15 seconds
  4. Plank: 45 seconds / Rest: 15 seconds
  5. Mountain Climbers: 45 seconds / Rest: 15 seconds
  6. Sit-ups: 45 seconds / Rest: 15 seconds

Tips:

Keep transitions quick to maintain heart rate. Focus on form to prevent injuries.

Yoga and Flexibility

Indeed, taking time to exercise physically for your body is one way of benefiting physically as well as emotionally. It releases endorphins, the ‘feel good hormones’ into the body system. They get rid of pain and stress and enhance the quality of your sleep and help you to get mental focus.

The incorporation of yoga and flexibility workouts assists in the relaxation process and also the general mobilization. And the best part is, you can do them anywhere. There are numerous Yoga programs and routines available on the internet today. However, here are some suggestions:

Quick Yoga Flow

Duration: 10-15 minutes
Benefits: Enhances flexibility, improves mental clarity, and reduces stress.

Example Routine:

  1. Sun Salutations (5 rounds)
  2. Downward Dog: 1 minute
  3. Warrior I: 30 seconds on each side
  4. Warrior II: 30 seconds on each side
  5. Child’s Pose: Pose: 1 minute

Tips:

Focus on deep breathing throughout the routine.
Perform the poses slowly and mindfully to maximize the benefits.

Final Thoughts

At times, a college student may feel that his or her timetable is very tight, and they cannot afford to exercise. However, you should know that this is not only attainable but also beneficial. These workouts include HIIT workouts, circuit workouts, strength training, and yoga among others ensuring that people of different preferences and timing conveniences are covered. Subsequently, by choosing to prioritize fitness, one gains improvements in his/her physical state, increased energy, and better-coping mechanisms for stress.

Co-Authors: Gloria Delgado

Bio lines: Gloria Delgado is passionate about workouts. She has discovered the excellent benefits exercising has on your mind and body. Now she is a personal trainer who wants to spread a love for exercising.

Posted by
Thomas Richards
Thomas is a trainer with 10+ years of experience as a Personal trainer and Sports Performance Coach. He holds an 'International Sports Science Association' (ISSA)- certification for personal training and under the 'National Sports Performance Association' (NSPA) a certification in Speed and Agility Coaching (CSAC).