Boost your exercise routine with these 5 tips for awesomely effective workouts

Continued from our Retreat & Renew Daily Tip.

1. Do shorter, higher-intensity workouts. After 30 or 40 minutes, the benefits tend to taper off. Plus, you’ve got other stuff to do. So go big, then go home. Push yourself, get your heart rate soaring, and stop clock-watching.
   
   
2. Hydrate! If you’re not drinking enough water, you may not feel it the rest of the day—but you’ll definitely notice it when your workout feels more strenuous than usual and you’re struggling to keep pace. Drink at least 64 ounces of water a day.
   
   
3. Do compound moves. Combine upper-body strength moves with lunges, squats, dips or cardio. Compound moves mean a more effective (and fun) workout—you’re not just toning, but burning calories, too.
   
   
4. Go old-school. Push-ups and full sit-ups are classics for a reason: they’re incredibly effective. Finish your workouts with both. Even if your arms and abs are wobbly at first, do as many as you can while keeping good form, and build up your reps over time.
   
   
5. Use heavier weights. Use the heaviest weights you can while keeping proper form. Remember, they won’t bulk you up—you’ll just be maximizing your workout!