With the holiday season revving up students are getting busier and busier. In between spending time with family and studying for finals, it can be hard to find the time and motivation to hit the gym. While we all want to enjoy Thanksgiving, New Years, and every holiday in between it's important to stay active. Luckily, you don't need to spend hours in the gym to stay healthy. There's plenty of exercises you can do in your room or even just at your desk, which are perfect for a study break. Here are some of our favorites:
1. Wall Sits
This exercise takes less than five minutes and leads to killer quads. Simply stand with your back against the wall, lower your body until your thighs are parallel to the ground (your legs should create a 90 degree angle) and hold for one to two minutes.
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2. Shoulder Shrugs
Feeling tense? Want to relieve a little stress but need to stay focused on your work? Try shoulder shrugs. Simply just raise your shoulders up towards your ears, hold for ten seconds, and release. This exercise may not get you jacked but hey, every little bit of stress elimination is needed during finals.
3. Ab Squeezes
This core exercise can be done sitting at your desk, walking around your house, or even in class. Take a deep breath, tighten your abdominal muscles and try to bring them towards your spine as you exhale. Make sure to keep good posture as you hold this exercise for ten seconds.
4. Hip Flexions
This exercise isn't as discreet as abdominal squeezes, but it's sure to still give your muscles a nice stretch. Lift one leg a few inches off the floor (make sure to evenly alternate legs), keep your leg at a 90 degree angle, hold for 30 seconds, repeat.
5. Elevated Pushups
These pushups are great for two reasons: you can do them in your room and they're rather easy compared to normal pushups. Put your hands on a sturdy piece of furniture (a bed or desk works best), straighten your arms, and bring your body down towards the furniture as if you were doing a regular pushup.
6. Chair Squats
Do she got the booty? She will after doing this exercise. Simply raise slightly out of your chair and hold a squatting position for as long as comfortable. Make sure to keep your back straight and don't hunch over. Want an even more intense exercise? Try combining these chair squats with abdominal squeezes to really feel the burn.
7. Book Press
Use your textbooks to put more than your mind to work. They can easily be turned into weights. Hold a book behind your head, extend your arms up so the book is over your head and return to the starting position.
8. Standing Calf Raises
Perfect for when you can't make it to the gym for leg day. Stand behind your chair, holding it while keeping your feet together. Slowly raise one leg backwards as far as you can, lower to starting position, alternate legs and repeat.
Photo Credits: danskinblog.com, kenaispine.com, Glamour, sportsinjuryclinic.net, sweatlikeapig.com, exercise.about.com, tuiban.net, sparkpeople.com
