Whether you are just starting your workout journey, or you’ve been at it for years, we can all admit that working out gets a bit boring sometimes. It can be a challenge to keep your workouts entertaining enough to get you to keep doing them.
Don’t let this discourage you though, there are a lot of things we can do that make working out enjoyable, ensuring that we don’t get stuck in the workout rut again.
Here is a list of 10 ways to make working out so enjoyable, you won’t want your next session to end!
10 Tips for a More Enjoyable Workout
1) Entertainment
A good playlist can be the difference between finishing a run or a tough set and giving up before the end. Distracting yourself can also be helpful, such as with a podcast or TV show.
Walking or running on the treadmill goes by a lot faster if you have your favorite show or playlist on at the same time!
2) Work out with a friend or group
If you are struggling with motivating yourself while working out, try to find a workout partner to help. This is also true for workout classes, which we will get to! Working as part of a group is proven to be more motivating and stimulating.
3) Switch it up
Doing the same workout every time you exercise gets boring quickly. Switching up your workout schedule every couple of sessions will keep you focused on the process. This also ensures you’re hitting different muscle groups each time you work out.
Try having your workouts on a rotating schedule so you know what to do each day, but it's not the same thing over and over again.
4) Reframe exercise
A lot of people view exercise as a means to eating extra dessert, making exercise the punishment. However, research has shown that viewing exercise as more of a reward after a tough workday or as a stress reliever is more enjoyable.
It can be hard to ditch the old mindset that you have to earn food with exercise, but once you do so, you may find yourself exercising more and enjoying it.
5) Join a class
You can find a class at a gym to surround yourself with people to help motivate you, or find an exercise video to take a class from the comfort of your home.
These classes have fun themes, motivating instructors, and exciting music to help keep you entertained. Classes in person also help you meet new people and find motivation from outside sources.
At-home classes allow you to fit them in when you may not have a lot of time and want to feel completely comfortable in your own home. Exercise classes also provide you with assistance if you don’t know where to start in your exercise journey.
6) Remove the pressure
Exercise doesn’t have to just be about losing weight, gaining muscle, or achieving a certain physique. It can also be about improving your mental health or making sure you have some time for yourself each week.
Removing the burden of “I have to lose x amount of weight in x number of weeks” can help make it more fun and provide you with benefits you didn’t think about before.
There doesn’t have to be any pressure on yourself with exercise, find your reasons for why you’re doing it and use those as your motivators.
7) Get outside
No one wants to spend an hour on the treadmill staring at a blank wall. Take your cardio outside to switch it up! A new and ever-changing environment will help distract you and might even make you run further than you do on a treadmill.
You can also try some outdoor sports, which provide a great workout and change of scenery. You’ll also be getting some vitamin D from the sun, which can help boost your mood even more.
8) Go back to childhood
When you were a kid, you exercised constantly without even noticing - running around the playground, jumping rope, or hula hooping. Go back to some of those fun childhood games to switch up your workout and have fun with it.
9) Set yourself up for success
Have you ever tried to do a workout in old sneakers and just ended up with sore feet? Set yourself up for success by kitting yourself out with the best workout gear.
You can even use this as a motivator or a reward to stick with your workout goals by buying new gear every 6 months, or after you reach x amount of workout days per month. You’ll also feel a lot more confident in yourself when you are wearing reliable and comfortable workout clothing.
10) Make everyday activities exercise
You probably don’t realize how many calories you burn just by going about your day. Cleaning your home, doing some gardening, parking your car further away from your destination, and opting for the stairs instead of the lift are all great examples of ways you can boost your daily exercise. Fitting in small exercises like this throughout the day will add up by the end of the week!
Take-Home Message
Working out doesn’t have to be a chore, we can also have fun with it! There are many ways to help make that happen, but these 10 tips are a great starting point. The workout rut will disappear once you implement a more enjoyable workout routine!
