It can be a lot more fun than you’d think!
Exercise isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Some people hate working out, running, cycling, or walking. They tell themselves they’re not “built for it”, and they struggle to fit that 30 to 90 minutes of exercise into their day. It’s normal to have a hard time with exercise, particularly if you’re new to the gym, track, or trail. It’s tough to enjoy exercise when you don’t feel that you’re doing it right, or you’re struggling to keep up.
But no more! We’ve got some simple tips to help you enjoy exercise a whole lot more:
- Entertain yourself — You’ll find working out is much more enjoyable if you entertain yourself as you do it! If you’re running or lifting weights, put on your favorite music playlist or listen to an audiobook. If on the treadmill, exercise bike, or elliptical machine, play a game on your smartphone, read a book on your Kindle, or watch TV. The more you enjoy the time you spend working out, the easier it will be to get through the workout.
- Stop comparing yourself –-Yes, that smaller man is lifting twice as much weight as you are. Yes, that girl is way more fit than you. So what? While a bit of competition can be healthy, it can also de-motivate you. Tell yourself that your fitness level is the only thing that matters. You are the only person you should compete with–you should always try to lift heavier, run longer, and train harder than YOU did yesterday. No one else is important.
- Find what works –– Simple weightlifting may not be perfect for everyone, just like not everyone enjoys a spinning class, Yoga, martial arts, or trail running. In the end, it’s all about finding what works for you, what gives you the results you want, and what keeps you happy while doing it. Think about what you like and dislike in a workout, and find a program that meets your personality and preferences.
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- Keep it fresh –– DO NOT do the same thing every day! That’s the fastest path to boredom, which leads to de-motivation and ultimately quitting. Instead, try to mix it up as much as possible. Change up your workouts on a regular basis–no less than once per month. If you can do different workouts each day, you’ll find it’s much easier to get through a full week of working out.
- Treat exercise as a reward –– Exercise isn’t the “punishment” you have to endure to work off that extra cookie or that brownie. Instead, try to see it as the “reward” for a hard day of work. It’s a change to unwind and work out that stress, and get fit in the process. If you can change the way you perceive exercise, it will be much easier to enjoy it!
- Make happy memories –– If you really want to enjoy exercise, you need to make positive memories associated with it. That means playing sports with friends, training with a buddy, or participating in a Color Run with coworkers. The more you enjoy whatever active activities you engage in, the more you will want to engage in them again in the future.
- Bring in a friend/friends –– Working out alone can be boring, so why not make it a more social activity? Work out with a friend or a whole crew of them, and it can make your exercise a whole lot more enjoyable. You can all get fit together, encouraging each other to keep up the good work.
