Do You Incorporate Interval Training into Your Workouts?

Whenever I’ve begun a running regimine, something I’m taking a break from due to an injury and pregnancy due (doctor’s orders…), I use interval training as a great way to get back in shape and increase my stamina. What I wasn’t expecting was to read the article “Interval Training Makes You Efficient At Work” at Business Insider. Evidently intervals aren’t just good for your body – whether you’re starting out or you’ve been running for a while, but they’re also good for your mind.

You can bet that when I begin running again I’ll start out interval training, especially as I build up to 5k races again once baby is here (did I mention I want a jogging stroller?) Intervals consist of 30-60 seconds of running combined with an equal amount of walking.

The gist of the article by Tony Schwartz is that we can apply the same sort of strategy to our workday. Work hard in shorter bursts followed by short bursts of relaxation. Before you laugh and say that it sounds like a good way to justify playing Candy Crush Saga on Facebook between meetings, it appears that the research supports this hunch just as it shows that interval training is much more effective in sports training.

What do you think? Do you use intervals when working out? Do you use intervals when working? I have been known to “Speed Date” my tasks when I feel overwhelmed by my to-do list. It’s amazing how much you can get done in 5 minutes (and how many small tasks can be knocked off your to-do list in 5-minutes or less!). I know that once baby comes, I’ll be out there pounding the pavement again!