Most guys think that getting in shape means spending hours upon hours in the gym. Although perfecting your physique does take time and dedication, it shouldn’t dominate your life. In fact, your goal should be to get in the most efficient workout possible. Most guys live a busy lifestyle and do not have the time for long workouts every day. In order to assure getting in and out of the gym in record time with a hard hitting routine, your main focus should be the structure of your workout.

Plan Ahead for an Efficient Workout

Many guys create their own workout on the fly leaving them wondering what exercise to do next. This is the absolute worst thing you could do in a weight room and one of the most common mistakes made. If you have a plan, you can get the most out of your time. You will work your muscles harder, gain muscle faster, and spend less time in the gym. This means that you should decide what muscle groups you want to work each day and what exercises you’re going to do. Smartphone users can take advantage of several apps to track their workouts. For example, the “Notes” app that’s pre-installed on all iPhones allows you to write down your weekly workout routine and then go into detail about what exercises you’ll be doing for each particular day. You can also find many different apps that will allow you to track your workouts even more efficiently. One that is highly rated is iFitness. It allows you to build workouts, track progress, enter weight amount, reps and much more. For those that don’t have a smart phone, pen and paper have always been effective and a great tool to track your progress and set up your workouts.

Getting In and Out of the Gym in Record Time

Once you have set your workouts up, you’re ready to hit the gym and get in shape! Make sure you start your workout with a thorough warm-up. This will prevent you from injury and keep your muscles from tightening up. After you’re warm, you can begin your routine. For an efficient workout that takes minimal time, rest only 30 seconds between sets. This will keep your body pumped up and really get the most out of your reps. Don’t get caught talking to others or getting lost in a TV. Yes it is nice to catch the score of a big game in between sets, but you can wait an hour to get consumed in the media. Let the guy next to you be the one getting lost in a television so you can gain more confidence and more muscle.  After multiple exercises, this time will add up and so will your results. You’ll spend less time working out and still get a ton of work done. By properly structuring workouts, only spending 30 seconds of rest between sets and have the right mindset going into the gym, you can get an efficient workout and get better results than ever! This was a guest post from Hayden Harrington. Follow him on Twitter for more health and fitness information @MyMuscleHealth. If you are looking to contribute to ConFITdent, please check here.