Good news for those who don't live at the gym—a new study suggests that just 15 minutes of exercise is enough to improve your fitness. Healthcare published a study in which several key health benefits were associated with short bursts of daily exercise. 11,575 participants from Australia, New Zealand and the UK participated in a 15-minute challenge over 6 weeks. Participants completed 15 minutes of exercise daily using an app that gamified the process. The challenge was workplace-based, focusing on employee exercise, but the results equally apply to individuals at home. Interestingly, even though the stipulation was to complete just 15 minutes of exercise, many participants consistently exercised for longer. Anecdotally, this is something that many of us will recognise in our own behaviour. The thought of going to the gym often stops us, rather than the workout itself. It ties in with what Atomic Habits author James Clear writes about: don't worry about how long or how hard you do something; just get started. The results saw participants averaging 85 minutes weekly while reporting increased sleep quality, mood, and fitness. The great news is also that there's no set recommendation for the type of exercise. Whatever you choose doesn't have to be high-intensity, complicated or expensive. It can be walking, jogging, swimming, trampolining, kicking a football about, etc. It echoes other studies, including one by Harvard Health Publishing, which states that 15 minutes of exercise a day can increase a person's lifespan by 3 years. Another study in the Nursing Times found that those over 60 reduced their risk of dying early by 22% just by doing 15 minutes of exercise a day. This news is heartening. Interestingly, however, several other studies have also found that the 'weekend warrior' approach to fitness is equally beneficial. For those who can't do 15 minutes a day, there are brain and cardio benefits to condensing exercise into one or two days. The key takeaway is that exercise is so beneficial that it doesn't really matter how you approach it. Whether that's short and often or more concentrated over the weekend, exercise is vitally important for a healthy lifestyle. One of the main reasons people quit the gym is because of a lack of time. The studies mentioned in this post suggest that working out can be adapted to fit most lifestyles. The 15-minute approach can also help people build more sustainable habits. Eager beginners can go too hard too soon, quitting when the novelty wears off. Introducing new starters to a little but often approach could help them build a more sustainable training pattern that will serve them for many years. This is apt as 78% of people say they use the gym to manage their mental health, while 31% don't get the recommended amount of exercise. If you're looking to kickstart your 15-minute exercise regime, find out more about the electricity-generating RE:GEN fitness bike.