Most of us spend a lot of time working, and at the end of each day, we find ourselves scrambling to get everything else done -- laundry, dinner, bills. As free time decreases, stress increases, which makes exercise important for reducing tension. Ironically, this takes time we frequently don't have.

What to do? Well, I can't give you more hours in a day, but I can give you a workout that fits into your busy schedule.
This at-work workout, which takes about 30 minutes from warm-up to cooldown, will leave you feeling more energetic and calmer, too. On days when you're too busy to fit in your regular workout, simply sneak away during the first half of your lunch hour to a quiet stairwell where the doors are kept unlocked. (Use the other half to eat -- don't skip meals!) You don't even need workout clothes, though you will want to wear athletic shoes and perhaps change into a T-shirt. If your stairwell is too hot or stuffy, find some outdoor stairs, or substitute power walking, running, or jumping rope in place of stair climbing for the cardio segments.

The Routine
Warm up by walking up and down the stairs for 5 minutes. Then perform all of the stretches, holding each one for 15 seconds. Next, alternate 5 minutes of cardio work with the 1-minute strength moves. Perform 10 to 12 reps of each strength exercise. Cool down with 5 minutes of easy walking and stretching. (If you're really pressed for time, deduct 1 minute from each cardio segment. Don't skip the warm-up or any of the stretches. If you can slip away for a 5-minute break later in the day, perform the stretches again.)

The Circuit
Warm-up
Stretches
5-minute cardio segment
Bent-knee push-ups
5-minute cardio segment
Rows
5-minute cardio segment
Triceps swing-backs
5-minute cardio segment
Bent-over leg extensions
Cooldown