When it comes to fitness, cross-training may get you the most output from your input. A combination of conditioning formats, cross-training burns calories and builds brawn without overstressing your body. And thanks to the variety of exercises, cross-training can help you break out of monotony and regain motivation so you feel your energetic best. A few ideas:

• Alternate daily activities. If you want to focus on a particular activity, are recovering from an injury, or you’re just starting out, try doing a different type of exercise each day. Perhaps you walk 30 minutes Monday, swim the next day, and jump on a stationary bike or take a kickboxing class mid-week. Whatever you do, try to switch between emphasis on your upper and lower body.

• Dedicate a single workout to several different exercises. Whether you’re pressed for time or stuck in a rut, rolling a variety of moves into your routine can be the answer. Consider a cardio combo that includes 10 minutes on an elliptical machine, 10 minutes jogging on the treadmill, and another 10 minutes on the bike. Or do a series of push-ups followed by lunges without rest to keep your heart rate up while taxing your arms and legs.