The Gym Shortcut That Builds More Muscle in Less Time

When most people hear “shortcut,” they think of gimmicks: trending diets, ab belts, or skipping the hard work. But there are real shortcuts in the gym — ones backed by science — that let you build more muscle in less time. They don’t replace consistency, but they make every set you do count for more.

Tempo Training: Slow Down to Speed Up Gains

Rushing reps is one of the biggest mistakes lifters make. By controlling the tempo — especially the lowering (eccentric) phase — you keep muscles under tension longer.

  • Example: Take 3–4 seconds lowering the bar in a bench press.
  • More tension = more micro-tears = more growth.
  • It turns one rep into the equivalent of two or three rushed ones.

Short on time? Slow reps give you maximum stimulus with fewer sets.

Drop Sets: Extend the Set Without Extra Time

Instead of resting and setting up again, drop sets keep the workout moving:

  • Perform an exercise to failure at a heavy weight.
  • Immediately reduce the weight 20–30% and continue.
  • Repeat 2–3 “drops.”

This squeezes multiple working sets into one extended sequence, building muscle and endurance in less time.

Rest-Pause: Big Results from Small Breaks

Rest-pause training is brutal, but effective:

  • Perform a set to failure.
  • Rest 15–20 seconds.
  • Push out another few reps.

Those extra reps recruit muscle fibres you wouldn’t hit otherwise, forcing growth.

Supersets: Double the Work, Half the Time

Pairing two exercises back-to-back not only saves time, it increases intensity.

  • Example: Bench press immediately followed by push-ups.
  • Or bicep curls paired with tricep extensions.

You train opposing muscle groups, keep your heart rate up, and finish faster.

Train Smarter, Not Longer

Building muscle doesn’t have to mean marathon workouts. By applying these techniques — tempo training, drop sets, rest-pause, and supersets — you’ll hit more fibres, generate more stimulus, and see results in less time.

Back to blog