One of the biggest barriers to exercise is time. No one has enough of it. After work or school, chores or car pools, the day is almost over. How are we supposed to find time for a run when we're busy running errands? And a trip to the gym is out of the question.

At least that's what you thought. Now, with these tips, you can cut your workout time in half and fit fitness into every day.

1. Work Out at Home

There's no rule that says exercise has to take place at a gym. Your body is made to move and you can break a sweat just about anywhere. So cut out the commute to the gym and exercise at home to save some time. If you're walking, jogging, or running, you don't have to worry about equipment. The same goes for body-weight exercises. Moves like the push-up, burpee, squat and lunge make it possible to build strength without equipment.

2. Use the Right Equipment

Whether you work out at home or at the gym make sure you choose the right equipment. When it comes to getting results it's all about efficiency. That's what makes the kettlebell the perfect piece of equipment. It gets the job done. High intensity circuits of kettlebell swings target the entire body, burning calories and building muscle at the same time. This versatile training tool can also be used to build functional strength that's useful beyond the four walls of the fitness center.

3. Up the Intensity

When you're on a tight schedule, the length of the workout isn't as important as how hard you are working. Instead of jogging, try sprinting intervals instead. Or, if you're weight training, try decreasing the rest period between sets. An even better approach would be setting a timer to create urgency. For example, if you only have 15 minutes, pick a set of exercises and complete the circuit as many times as you can in 15 minutes. Limiting the rest periods, increasing the speed of the movement, or upping the load are excellent methods for getting more out of shorter workouts.

4. Train the Entire Body

Focusing on one muscle group is great for body builders and figure competitors. But, anyone looking to lose weight and improve overall fitness would be better off targeting the entire body. To accomplish this goal compound, total body exercises are best. Think of it like this: the more muscles moving, the better. Exercises like the squat, deadlift, kettlebell swing, overhead press, and pull-up call multiple muscle groups into action. As a result, you are burning more calories and building total body strength.

The key takeaway is to remember that exercise doesn't have to be complicated. It is OK if you don't have hours on end to commit to working out because you don't need that much time. The trick to cutting your workout time in half is to keep things simple, push the intensity, and target multiple muscle groups. If you do that, you'll have the results you're after in less time than you thought possible.