doing sets

quick question, if i spread out sets of exercise throughout the day, is it just as good as doing it in all at once?

I usually get bored if i do more than one set of something even if i switch to something else and switch back.

I don't think it really matters, but how long are your sets and sets of what?  I mean it should only take you a min to complete a set of anything.  Only 5 mins to complete the recommended 3 sets.  I do circuit training.  I do a complete lower body workout in 25 mins.  That is 3 sets of 12 for 7 different exercises.

oh well :-) currently, i usually do a set of 15 crunches, and 15 reps of pushups (i do it with knees bent), and 15 reps bicycle crunches.  I am trying to get to 20 reps now.
Then I go for a 1/2 hr run/jog.
come back, and repeat the set of crunches & pushups.

I know its not very varied, but I dont want to go to the gym (cost factor, I am a poor student living away from home atm..) and I do not have any gym equipment.

I have started to though, when i watch tv, or doing some mindless activities, use soup/bean cans as weights, and do arm lifts and such.

However I get bored very quickly, and so it's much easier for me to do everything spread out throughout the day. (like wake up and do some stretching & do 1 set of pushups etc.)

As long as it is just the things you are doing you can split it up, but if you start doing weights then you need to do them together

It also matters what you're doing and why - your heart rate probably won't get to and stay at the same levels... however, everytime you elevate it, it will stay there for a short while...

You know, I really doubt there's a correct answer to that.

And agana, to say that "it should only take ... 5 minutes to complete 3 sets" may be right for you, but it matters what/why you're doing the exercise.  In my lifting for track & field, it is recommended you wait 5 minutes in between each set (for snatches/cleans)... so it is different depending on what you're doing and if youre doing it for muscle build or endurance.

Well I kind of assumed this person was not doing olympic lifts or anything of that nature.

Why do you wait 5 minutes?  What does waiting versus doing it quickly do to the muscle?  Sometimes at my desk, I can only do one set... then an hour later I do another, am I wasting my time?