By Mridu Khullar

If you're crunched for time, here are some quick and easy exercise ideas that you can include in your daily routine.

Being healthy isn't just about hitting the gym for hours every day, or being able to fit into your jeans. Regular exercise has many more benefits - lower risk of ailments such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, colon cancer and depression, as well as increased bone strength, higher energy levels and an overall sense of well being.

Split It Up
Instead of spending one hour at the gym, do six 10-minute workout sessions throughout the day. Try some slow stretches, leg crunches or lunges when you get up in the morning, during short breaks at work or while you're watching your favourite show on TV.

Walk Yourself
Take a brisk walk around the neighborhood before breakfast or after dinner. Even small increments of daily activity can burn body fat, and walking not only tones your hips, legs and lower back muscles, but also keeps you energised throughout the day.

Do A Jumping Jack
Borrow a skipping rope and start jumping. You'll be losing as much as 70 to 110 calories in only 10 minutes.

Sip Sip Sip
Dehydration will hinder your aerobic performance, so no amount of working out is going to help if you're not drinking enough fluid. Water helps you burn calories and digest fat, and most importantly, it detoxifies your system.

Fire The Maid
Studies suggest that women today are more overweight and less fit than women in the '50s. That's because we depend more on electronic appliances than doing work ourselves. Simple daily chores burn a large amount of calories. In fact, vacuuming for an hour burns 90 calories, gardening will kill 150 calories and cooking can actually burn up to 160 calories!

Get Outdoors
In your leisure time, opt for activities that excite you. Go to the park, walk the dog, plan picnics or do something more adventurous like hiking, rock-climbing, paddle boating or scuba diving.