Maintaining a fitness routine can be difficult. Doing the same old activities every day can make them feel like intimidating items on your recurring to-do list.
It doesn’t matter if you go for a daily jog after work, visit the gym every morning, or any other workout option. If you’ve found that you’re dreading your workout regimen, here are a few suggestions to help you breathe new life into your fitness efforts.
1. Find a New Workout Activity
One of the easiest ways to improve your workout attitude is by changing the specific activities that you’re doing. Pumping iron and running on a treadmill are great ways to get your sweat on. Even so, they aren’t the only options out there.
On the contrary, there are many other ways to get a good workout in and even have some fun as you do so. For instance, you can try going stand up paddle boarding. This is a great way to get some serious cardio while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of a water environment. You don’t even have to get wet while doing so, which makes clean up nice and easy afterward.
There are countless other ways to get a unique workout. Take a dance class. Join a pick-up soccer league. Learn how to walk a tight rope. You can even get a workout video game to do in your living room.
If you’re feeling intimidated by the drudgery of your current workout, there are always plenty of other ways to get some exercise.
2. Look for a Change in Scenery
Another way to avoid that “dreaded workout syndrome” is to shift where you work out. This is a great option if you already know what kind of exercises work for you and you aren’t interested in doing a different activity altogether.
If that’s the case, think about where you can go to change up your workout atmosphere. For instance, if you workout at a franchise gym, consider upgrading to a membership that lets you go to any location. Then, when you’re feeling intimidated by your normal workout, visit a new gym to shake things up.
If you’re a runner, consider taking things from your treadmill into the great outdoors. This can spark creativity and the fresh air is great for your health. If you already jog outdoors, look for a local trail or track that you can visit when your existing routes have run dry.
By changing up the atmosphere, you can add new interest to a dull or intimidating workout regimen.
3. Spice Up Dull Routines
If new activities or changing your location aren’t an option, you may want to zoom in on your workout routine itself. Are you doing the same exact thing every time you go to the gym? Do you run a three-mile circuit at the same incline every time you get on the treadmill?
Consistency can be a powerful motivator that can keep you on track. But it can also be a two-edged sword. A lack of variation can make a workout feel repetitive — which can translate into a sense of avoidance over time.
The good news is, there are multiple ways that you can tailor your current routine to help make it more attractive. Start with basics.
For example, do you listen to music or a podcast while you work out? Adding an audible dimension to things can help engage your mind and make each workout more interesting.
Another way to tweak an intimidating routine is to rearrange how you do things. Split up your workout into leg and arm days. Select a varying route on the treadmill. Sign up for an online workout program that offers varying instructors and classes. You get the idea.
4. Find a Friend to Help
Working out can be a very lonely activity. This can be nice at times. Anyone who wakes up early and goes to the gym first thing knows how difficult it is to carry on a conversation at that time of the day.
If you find that your current workout isn’t cutting it, though, you may want to think about bringing someone else in on the action. Look for a friend who can work out with you.
Be careful about who you select. Find an individual with the right temperament to fit with your existing routine. Look for someone who’s interested in working out with you, too. You may also want to look for a friend with similar routines as yourself — i.e. if you’re a gym rat, don’t go to the gym with a runner or your routines will clash.
Having a friend by your side is a great way to tap into some fresh motivation. It can also add a sense of accountability to your workouts. This can keep you focused and engaged.
5. Set SMART Goals
Finally, if your workouts are open-ended, it’s easy to feel burned out by them. After all, when you aren’t working toward anything, it’s hard to find the desire to keep going at all times.
An easy way to address this is by setting goals to keep you moving forward. This could be lifting a certain amount of weight or running a specific distance. It could also be reaching a weight loss goal or bringing down some unhealthy medical numbers.
Regardless of the specifics, make sure that you set SMART fitness goals. These should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. In other words, don’t settle for general objectives like “lose weight” or “get in shape.” Instead, target your goals toward endpoints that will challenge you yet still be reachable.
Everyone dreads their workout at some point along the way. The important thing is that you don’t let this lack of motivation undermine your fitness efforts.
Instead, review the options above and look for a way to rally your interests and overcome your adverse feelings. Tailor your existing routine. Find a friend to exercise with. Look for a new fitness activity that sparks fresh interest.
The point is, there are plenty of ways to keep you happy and healthy. The critical first step, though, is deciding to do something to address the issue in the first place.