Finding the time to challenge your core

A strong core matters for strength, balance, posture, and everyday tasks. Maybe you doubt you have time for a core workout. The good news: with so many routines you can do at home, a solid core workout can be quick and easy.

A full core workout takes about 20 minutes for one set of exercises and stretches, or 40 minutes for two. When time is short, you can still sneak in core work in as little as five to 10 minutes. Here are some approaches.

Try a shorter workout. A 10-minute session of basic core moves - bridge, plank, reverse lunges, side squats - is effective and far less of a time commitment. Keep every exercise stable on the floor, or bring in a stability ball or balance trainer.

Fit in bursts of exercise. Even the busiest people have pockets of downtime. Challenge yourself to see how often you can slip in a burst of core work. Can you do one or two moves before leaving home in the published report? How about during TV commercial breaks? Could you close your office door and do a few squats and lunges while on the phone? Start slowly by writing a reminder on your calendar - say, every Monday and Thursday - then gradually fold bursts into more days.

Choose cues to prompt activity. Spot predictable wait times or recurring events that can trigger specific exercises. While waiting for a light to change, check your posture or practice bracing yourself. While your computer boots up, try a few front planks, side squats with knee lifts, or plies. When you finish a task, take an active break with side leg lifts or reverse lunges.

Work core moves into strength sessions. Add two to four core exercises to your twice-weekly strength-training sessions. This is an excellent fallback during especially busy weeks; when life calms down, step back up to full core workouts.