Think you haven't got time for a health kick? All it takes is a few minutes...

LIFT WEIGHTS FOR... 10 SECONDS

Try lifting and lowering weights for 10 seconds, rather than the usual couple of seconds to boost strenth. A US study found people who used a slow technique of resitance training showed 50% increase in strength compared to those lifting at the normal, faster speed. Slowing down the movements lifts momentum  and creates more tension in the muscles.

EXERCISE FOR... 3X20-SECOND BURSTS

Sprint Interval Training (SIT) on the stairs can boost your heart health in a big way. Researchers form a Canadian university found that you don't need hours at the gym to get fit. In one study, they discovered that sprinting upstairs in short bursts, three times a week, in three 20-second bursts, with two-minute recovery periods improves cardiorespiratory fitness. So leave the lift and spend a little getting breathless on the stairs. Simple!

MASSAGE MUSCLES FOR... 10 MINUTES

Pummelling your muscles for this length of time after tough exercise does more than simply relieving tension and pain. Research form McMaster University, in Canada, looked inside a muscle as it was massaged and found that 10 minutes of kneading switches on sensors that reduce inflammation in muscle cells and helped build more mitochondrias, which help muscles repair and grow. Try using a foam roller on your achy bits.

CHEW GUM FOR... 10 MINUTES

Chewing sugar-free gum for 10 minutes helps remove 100 million bacteria form the mouth - making it as effective as flossing, according to researcheers form the University of Groningen, in the Netherlands. But chew it for longer and some of the bacteria is released back into the mouth - presumably because the gum becomes less sticky after prolonged exposure to saliva. So set a stopwatch, then stop chewing!

POWER NAP FOR... 20 MINUTES

That's the max time for a power nap. It can help lower stress levels and leave you feeling more aleert - you should drift off and brain activity should slow down. Don't nap for longer, though, as you want to avoid going into deep sleep, which can leave you feeling groggy.

STRECH FOR... 30 SECONDS

That's  the ideal amount of time to hold a stretch to keep you flexible after moderate exercise, such as running. Anything less won't lengthen your muscle and tissues enough, but you don't gain much from doing more.

WALK FOR... 30 MINUTES PER DAY

Studies show that walking can cut diabetes risk by up to 60%, and three 30-minute walks a week could protect against demetia. This is because it causes areas of the brain associated with momory to increase in size shich slows down the ageing process.

READ A BOOK FOR... AT LEAST HALF AN HOUR

Reading this long every day could help extend your life. People who read for up to three and a half hours a week were 17% less likely to die than non-readers during a 12-year follow-up period. Those who read for longer cut their chances of dying early by 23%, according to research. Reading helps keep your mind active and reduces stress.

AND TWO TO AVOID...

TOSSING AND TURNING FOR... 20 MINUTES

Get out of bed if you've been unable to fall asleep, after this time, as lying there awake worrying leads you to associate your bed with being awake and frustrated. Sit quietly in a different room, then only return to bed when you feel you're about to nod off.

VIGOROUS EXERCISE FOR... 90 MINUTES

While exercise can boost the immune system, overdoing it can have the opposite effect. Research shows 90 minutes of high-intensity exercise elevates production of stress hormones and suppresses our disease-fighting white blodd cells, making us prone to infections. Keep exercise down to 45 minutes of moderate intensity.

You made it to the gym. It’s leg day. You have an hour before you need to get finished and back to work. Time is precious. You circle your arms, touch your toes, check yourself in the mirror, look at your phone and head to the squat rack.

.

That might be all the mobility work you do before getting under the bar and loading your body up with some weight. And why not? You work hard. You’re looking good. And you’re not injured. You don’t need to waste time on the optional extras.

Except, if you’ve got even a passing interest in getting stronger, or building a body to stand the test of time, you really do. 

MOBILITY INDICATORS

Use these three mobility tests to see where you may have issues in reaching full range of motion. These are your opportunity to find out where you need to improve your mobility, so you can apply yourtime in the gym to the best effect

COUCH STRETCH

The is a great stretch to see where your hip extension and knee flexion weak points are.

- Bend your left knee and place your shin along the back cushion of a couch (or a chair) with your toes pointed upward.

- Keep your left thigh in line with your body.

- Place your right foot in front, aligning your knee above your ankle.

- Elongate your spine and engage your core and glutes.

- Keep your hips square.

- Hold for at least 45 seconds.

- Switch sides.

10-MINUTE SQUAT TEST

This is a posture we should all be aiming towards being able to achieve. Itrequires good mobility at the hips, knees, ankles and the lumbar spine.

- Stand with your feet parallel, hip-width apart and toes facing forward.

- Squat down as if sitting in a chair. Your hips, knees and ankles will start to flex.As you get lower your knees will travel over your toes (stay in line with your feet) and your hips will drop over your heels to maintain your balance.

- Try to keep your feet flat on the ground.

- As you get lower in the squat, allow your lumber spine to flex into a natural position.

- Hold in this bottom position for ten minutes or as close as you can manage.

APLEY SCRATCH TEST

This is a test used by many physios to diagnose shoulder mobility issues. It tests internal and externalrotation, as well as adduction and abduction at the shoulderjoint.

- Reach your right arm above your head, with palm facing forward.

- Bend at the elbow and place your right palm on your left shoulder blade. If possible, see if you can place the hand between your two shoulder blades.

- Reach your left arm behind you, with palm facing inwards.

- Bend at the elbow and place the back of your left hand on your right shoulder blade. See if you can place the hand between your two shoulder blades.

- Try to touch the fingers of your right hand and left hand together.

MOBILITY MOVES

This is a range of exercises that cover top-to-toe mobility

UPPER-BODY MOBILITY

PRONE BENT-ARM CHEST STRETCH

This stretch targets the chest and front of the shoulder.

- Begin in the prone position (on your stomach), with one hand on the floor and your elbow bent, and the other arm extended straight on the floor.

- With your bent arm, press into the floor and shift your weight towards your other hand, to initiate a stretch in your chest.

- Take your time moving in and out of the stretched position, and try to deepen the stretch with each rep.

- Once you’re comfortable in this position, move in and out of the stretch 10 times, then hold for 30 seconds.

- Repeat this sequence for 3 rounds, then repeat on the opposite side.

CLASPED HANDS EXTENSION

This stretch allows you to work on shoulder extension and helps you work against that rounded posture we tend to find ourselves in.

- Start in a seated position. You can sit on the floor with your legs crossed or out in front of you. You can also sit in a chair without a back, if that’s more comfortable.

- Clasp your hands behind your back and then straighten your elbows. Sit up with a tall posture and pull your arms up and back as far as you can. When doing this stretch, focus on squeezing your shoulder blades together.

- Move in and out of the stretch 5 times, then hold for 15-30 seconds on your final rep.

LOWER-BODY MOBILITY

KNEELING LUNGE

As you lean into this stretch, you want your knee to be over yourtoes as opposed to your shin being straight up and down.

- Get into a lunge position, with your knee and foot about hip-width apart from the elevated leg.

- Keep your chest tall and hips square.

- If you need more of a stretch, you can pull your back knee up off the ground.

- Make sure your hips are square with your upper body, and you’ll be in the right position.

- You can also adjust your back leg to make sure you feel a good stretch in your hip flexors.

- Once you find a good position that is challenging, yet comfortable, sink into the stretch for 30 seconds per leg.

Do 3 rounds for each side.

PIGEON STRETCH

In addition to opening up the hips, the pigeon stretch can help you work on your hamstring and spine flexibility.

- Start with your front knee bent to a 90-degree angle. You can adjust your back knee to what you’re comfortable with, keeping it bent or extending it.

- Rock back and forth, rotating your rear hip towards your front heel, and then towards the back foot.

- Keep your chest up high, and only take the stretch as far as you can comfortably.

- You can enhance the stretch by straightening out your back leg, which puts you into the full pigeon pose, but only do what’s comfortable.

- Set a timer for 30 seconds and work on opening your hip, then switch sides and set another timer for 30 seconds.

- You can repeat this stretch, alternating sides for 2 more rounds.

SPINAL HEALTH AND BACK MOBILITY

QUADRUPED SIDE BEND

This stretch targets yourlattisimus dorsi, quadratus lumborum and spinal erectors. It helps open up your back and gets you ready fortorso rotation.

- Get into a kneeling position and stretch your hands out in front of you. If your quads are tight and they keep you from getting into a deep kneeling position, just sit back as far as you comfortably can.

- Move your hands to your right side, so they’re at a 45-degree angle to your body, until you feel a nice stretch. Take the stretch further, if you can.

- Do 10 reps of this stretch, and then hold it for 30-60 seconds.

- Repeat this motion 3 times, then do the same on the opposite side.

QUADRUPED TORSO ROTATION

A lot of people struggle with spinalrotation, so this stretch will help you open up new ranges of motion.

- Get down on all fours, making sure your hands are directly under your shoulders and your knees under your hips.

- Move one forearm directly under your chest near the midline, and then place the back of your free hand on the small of your back.

- Now rotate your body toward the elbow and look upward to the ceiling. To stabilise your body, press down with your support elbow into the ground.

- Do 10 full repetitions, and hold the last one for 30-60 seconds.

- Do 3 rounds of this stretch, then repeat for the opposite side.