Why do so many people quit exercising? They don’t enjoy it. Exercising is hard work. Not only is it physically demanding, you also have to fit it into your schedule, which is time that could be spent doing something more fun. But you have a fitness goal, and exercise is the only way to reach it. So you grit your teeth, hit the gym, and bear it. You think listening to music will help the time pass, but you’re still looking at the clock and thinking, “It’s only been one minute? I can’t wait for this to be over.”
If all you’re doing is putting on your headphones or watching the TV on the other side of the gym (that you can’t hear), your exercise routine can be more fun. Really, anyone who isn’t looking forward to their workout and smiling during it could be having more fun while exercising. Here are some suggestions that will help you increase the fun level of your exercise routine.
Workout with a Partner
Partners are great for motivating you during a workout, and people who work out with a partner are more likely to stick to their exercise routine and meet their fitness goals. If that’s not enough reason to find an exercise buddy, do it because they’ll make things a lot more fun. Even if you’re just going for a jog together, you can have a nice, casual conversation during it, or you can snicker together at the ridiculous people you see in the park. If your workout partner is a close friend, you probably have fun together doing just about anything, so why not work out together, too?
Join a Group Fitness Class
Do you think the people in Richard Simmons’ fitness class think their workout is boring? While you might not be able to have a trainer as colorful as Simmons, you can certainly look around and try to find a group fitness class that you really enjoy. Try out a few different classes, and go with an instructor who is lively, exciting, and fun. You may also meet some cool new people in the class. There are all different types of classes. If you don’t like Pilates, try kick-boxing. There is a group fitness class for you somewhere out there that will please you.
Play
Play – it sounds like a pretty simple suggestion, but it’s the most important one of all. When you were little and ran around the backyard, you were playing and exercising at the same time. You can do that as an adult, too. Do an activity that you enjoy that also has some kind of physical component, and you won’t even realize you’re working out. Play a game of basketball with your friends, or a game of Marco Polo in the pool. Go for a hike on a nearby trail, or try a rock-climbing wall. Whatever you can do that’s fun and gets you moving can be your new form of exercise, and it won’t feel so much like work.
Gareth Smith is a soccer coach and fitness expert from Blackpool who freelances in his free time. He often writes about fitness and covers a broad range of topics from appropriate exercise activities to the health of frozen foods and even the harmful effects of unhealthy diets.
Photo Credit: stubailey
