No Time? - Do the Most Important Thing!

When You Can't Do Everything - Do the Most Important - Jim Edwards

When you don’t have time to do everything, you must do the most important thing. What does this mean? Sometimes, this means missing planned events on the schedule, like workouts. Face it, life sometimes gets in the way of the best-made plans. But most of the time, we make excuses to miss workouts.

There are many ways to define "most important." I usually go with the one thing I need to work on the most (my weakness). However, defining the “most important thing” can be different for each of us. For many preparing for a tactical profession, weaknesses across a wide range of fitness elements can be quickly exposed during training (boot camp, academy, basic training, spec ops selection, etc.). These often include the following: strength, power, speed, agility, muscle stamina, endurance (run, ruck, swim), flexibility, mobility, and grip.

Don't let the "all or nothing" mentality win.
A 20-minute workout is 100% better than the 0-minute workout you would have done otherwise.

Sometimes, the most important thing is the one that takes the least time and logistics. While it is frustrating when a busy schedule eats into your "me time," but a shorter workout doesn't have to be a wasted one. When you’re cut down to 50% of your usual time, the goal shifts from volume to intensity and efficiency.

Here is how to pivot your strategy based on your primary goals:

1. Focus on Compound Movements (Strength Focus)

If you usually do isolation exercises (like bicep curls or leg extensions), swap them for compound lifts. These recruit multiple muscle groups and joints at once, giving you more "bang for your buck."

• The Big Four: Squats, Deadlifts, Presses (Overhead or Bench), and Rows/Pull-ups.
• The Strategy: Pick one upper-body and one lower-body compound movement. Perform them as a superset (back-to-back with no rest) to keep your heart rate up and save time.

2. Increase the Density (Muscle Stamina / Cardio Mix)

Density is the amount of work you do in a specific window of time. Instead of counting sets, try these "timer-based" methods:

• EMOM (Every Minute on the Minute): Pick an exercise (e.g., Pullups max + 10 kettlebell swings). Start the clock. Then rest for the remainder of that minute. Repeat for 10–15 minutes.
• AMRAP (As Many Rounds As Possible): Set a timer for 20 minutes. Choose 3 exercises + cardio (e.g., Push-ups, Lunges, Sit-ups, Run 1 minute). Cycle through them continuously until the timer expires.
• Add Weight Vest to All Calisthenics Sets (Add weight / reduce volume & time)

3. Prioritize Your "Weak Link" or "Peak Goal."

If you can't do the whole routine, do the part that matters most.

• For Strength: Do your heaviest lift first while you're fresh, then leave.
• For Muscle Stamina/Cardio: Skip the steady-state jog and do 10 minutes of high-intensity intervals (HIIT). Any of these Classics for a time is a good idea.
• Cardio: Run, bike, etc for max distance in any given time (20-30 min)
• For Mobility: Spend the limited time on the one area that usually feels tightest (like hips or upper back) so you at least maintain your range of motion. Mobility is my go-to on days like this, as I feel awesome when done, even for 20-30 min.