A strong core is essential for longevity in wellness because it serves as the body’s foundation for stability, posture, and functional movement, which are critical for maintaining independence and preventing injuries (e.g., falls and back pain) while aging. But are you sending too much time on your core?

You do not need to spend long training your core because these muscles are already heavily engaged during compound exercises (squats, deadlifts) and daily movements, meaning short, intense sessions (~10 minutes) are sufficient. Excessive, long daily training can hinder recovery, cause injury, or lead to over-engagement, and it does not burn belly fat. 

Here is why short, targeted core training is more effective:

• Compound Exercises Work Abs: The core acts as a stabilizer during heavy lifts like deadlifts and squats.
• Muscles Need Recovery: Training abs every day without rest can cause overtraining, resulting in muscle strain or back issues.
• Spot Reduction is a Myth: Spending hours on crunches will not burn the fat covering your abs; core exercises only build muscle underneath.
• Over-engagement Risks Injury: Constantly engaging your core (e.g., trying to hold your stomach tight all day) can create too much tension, causing pain.
• Efficiency Over Duration: A few sets taken to near-failure on a few exercises (like planks or leg raises) are more effective than high-repetition, long workouts, says this Athlean-X article. 

A 10-minute session, 2–3 times a week, is usually enough to develop a strong, visible, and functional core.