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This 15-Minute Strength Workout Can Fit In Any Busy Schedule

One more quick HIIT proves that there’s always time to get in a good sweat sesh.

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  • 15 minutes

  • 10

  • Yes

Man Performing a Dumbbell Row for this 15 Minute Tri-set Strength Workout
Srdjan Randjelovic
Man Performing a Dumbbell Row for this 15 Minute Tri-set Strength Workout
Srdjan Randjelovic

The key to workout consistency is adaptability, which is when this short 15 minute tri-set strength workout comes into play. There is a common misconception that if you haven’t the time for your usual workout, you should live to fight again another day.

Although there is nothing wrong with that line of thinking, it doesn’t account for a thing called life.

If you haven’t figured it out already, life is pretty good at throwing you curveballs. And by curveballs, I mean the time you have reserved for your workout is not happening. Longer workouts are great because that’s where the gains happen; short workouts are handy when time is of the essence.

Adapting to your current circumstances is the key to health and fitness, longevity, and consistency. When time and equipment access are limited, bookmark this 15-minute strength workout for future reference.

You can thank us later—or not.

Benefits of a Quick 15-Minute Workout

It’s not all bad that you don’t have the time for your usual long duration of training. Here are four benefits to consider when time is short.

  • Efficiency: Shorter sessions mean you can easily fit your workouts into a busy schedule. Short workouts are great for those who can’t dedicate hours to the gym but want to maintain their gains.
  • Intensity Focus: With less time, you focus better on the intensity of your workout. High-intensity sessions can increase strength and muscular endurance and improve metabolic health.
  • Better Recovery: Shorter workouts can reduce the risk of overtraining, allowing for better recovery. Refraining from overtraining is crucial for muscle growth and strength, as muscles need time to repair and strengthen afterward.
  • Flexibility and Variety: Short, focused workouts allow more flexibility in your workout schedule. You can concentrate on different muscle groups in separate sessions or mix in cardiovascular and flexibility training without feeling overwhelmed.

The 15 Minute Tri-Set Strength Workout Directions

Use the following training as a stop-gap when time and equipment are limited. It will be a high-intensity workout because you’re working out for a short time. Good workouts/programming is a trade-off between time and intensity. Less time equals more intensity, and more time equals less intensity. So, get after it and keep the intensity high.

Here, you’ll perform the same reps for every exercise in the triset and complete as many rounds as you can in six minutes. You’ll do that for both tri-sets.

There is a tendency to lighten the load when working for time, but don’t do that. Choose a weight you can do for eight to 10 reps, and if you need to go down in load, that’s fine. Just start heavy.

15 Minute Tri-Set Strength Workout You Can Do in a Pinch

Start with a simple two-minute warm consisting of four bodyweight exercises performed for 30 seconds each. Here’s an example.

Routine

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Warm-Up

Exercise
Equipment
Sets
Reps
Rest
Exercise 2 of 10

Bodyweight Squat

Equipment
No Equipment
Sets
--
Reps
30 seconds
Rest
--
Exercise 3 of 10

Push Up

Equipment
Sets
--
Reps
30 seconds
Rest
--
How to
Exercise 4 of 10

Side Plank

Equipment
Medicine Ball
Sets
--
Reps
15 seconds each side
Rest
--

Triset One

Repeat the triset for six minutes and move to the next one without rest.

Exercise
Equipment
Sets
Reps
Rest
Exercise 6 of 10

Half-Kneeling Dumbbell Press

Equipment
Sets
--
Reps
6
Rest
--
Exercise 7 of 10

One-Arm Dumbbell Row

Equipment
Dumbbells
Sets
--
Reps
6 each side
Rest
--

Triset Two

Do as many rounds as possible in six minutes, resting as needed.

Exercise
Equipment
Sets
Reps
Rest
Exercise 8 of 10

Plyo Pushup

Equipment
No Equipment
Sets
--
Reps
6
Rest
--
Exercise 9 of 10

Chinup

Equipment
Pullup Bar
Sets
--
Reps
6
Rest
--
Exercise 10 of 10

Goblet Split Squat

Equipment
Bench, Dumbbells
Sets
--
Reps
6 on each side
Rest
--
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