Whilst some people find the act of exercising fun in itself, there are others of us that find exercise to be nothing but a chore. It’s very hard to be motivated about something that you don’t enjoy, even if you know that it will be rewarding in the end. Fortunately, exercise doesn’t have to be a dull routine – by combining it with other activities and adding other goals you can turn it into something fun that you look forward to. Here are just five ways to make exercise more fun.
Make it a social activity
Some people find exercising alone boring. Having an exercise buddy could help to turn exercise into a social activity that could keep you more motivated. You could also consider signing up to exercise classes where you can meet new people – this could be anything from a spin class to a regimental fitness class. There are even joggers’ groups to make jogging less lonely.
Get competitive
If you’re a naturally competitive person, it could be worth finding an exercise that allows you to channel this motivation. There are many sports that can provide a workout and allow you to compete against other people such as tennis, boxing and basketball. By finding people to train with that are of a similar age and ability, you can keep it fun and challenging. You could even buddy up with someone at the gym and compete to more reps than the other person.
Exercise to music
Many people find that exercising to music spurs them on. By allowing yourself to get lost in the music, you can distract yourself from the exercise. You could try looking in your area for good bodyjam classes that could allow you to work out whilst dancing. Alternatively, you can train solo by creating a playlist to listen to on your headphones whilst doing your usual gym workout.
Work out in front of the TV
After a long day at work, when given the choice of exercise or watching TV, most people give in to the latter. However, there’s no reason why you can’t do both. There are plenty of exercises that can be done in front of a TV including static exercises such as the plank, push ups, squats, star jumps and various exercises with weights. You could even invest in a treadmill and get your weekly running in whilst watching the TV.
Get fit with gadgets
If you love gadgets, you may be able to combine this love with exercise. Apps can be a fun way to motivate yourself to exercise. They help to give you targets and even allow you to compete against other app users. You can also use wearable technology. This can measure body stats such as your heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature as you work out. There are plenty of online stores where you can search through fitness tech.