This is the magic number of minutes we should be exercising for each day

We all know sitting for hours and hours at a desk each day is not great for our fitness levels, let alone our mental health, but finding the time to squeeze a workout into our meeting-packed days can sometimes prove tricky.

Luckily, according to a new study published by the British Journal of Sports Medicine you may not need to dedicate so much time to a workout after all - so put on your best workout clothes, snap your laptop shut and hit the streets for a mood-improving dose of endorphins.

How long should I be exercising for?

The study, which followed 44,370 men and women found, amazingly, we may only need 11 minutes of exercise per day to live longer and feel fitter. 

Findings show that people who sit for around eight to 10 hours a day but managed to fit in just 11 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise were less likely to die than those who only got about two minutes of exercise per day. Proof that just a little bit of exercise is better than none at all is news to our ears because everyone’s got time for a quick run or hike, right?

Other activities that count as your 11 minutes a day include jogging, taking a strenuous fitness class, swimming or even carrying heavy groceries upstairs.  

Exercising regularly can help improve life expectancy as it lowers the risk of developing age-related diseases and type two diabetes, whereas low energy activities like lying or sitting for long periods of time are linked with disease and early death. Those who exercise regularly will also see improvements in heart and lung health which can result in feelings of increased energy plus we all know the mood-boosting properties of exercise are endless.

So what are you waiting for? It’s time to get active - for 11 minutes at least!