10 Great Ideas to Make Your Workout Fly By

Lisa Franchi August 12, 2013

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You probably know that exercising is good for you. It replenishes your energy levels, strengthens your muscles, and makes you less prone to illnesses. But if you’re like most people, there are days when you enjoy exercising but there are much more days when you feel it’s the last thing you want to do.

Don’t worry, with the following tips, you can hit your workout goals in a much fun way!

Take it out.

Does the site of your home gym make you feel tired and exhausted even before you start your workout? Then do it outside! If you’re doing the same exercise routine every day, you are more likely to get bored. So once in a while, go out with your bike or just walk and burn calories whilst you appreciate nature!

Get grooving.

Dancing is one great way to make exercising more fun and truly exciting.  Download dance workout videos online (you’ll find many of them for free) so you will have a guide. Better yet, sign up for a dance fitness programme. Have you ever tried Zumba? Well you should.

Find an exercise buddy.

You don’t have to do it solo. Grab a workout buddy, maybe your best friend or your significant other. In 2011, researchers at University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that exercising with a partner improves weight-loss results. So what are you waiting for? Go get one now!

Turn on the right music.

You have probably tried listening to music whilst working out. But were you tuning in to the right music? According to a 2010 study by Liverpool John Moores University, people are more likely to stay motivated during exercise and are more likely to push themselves to the next level when tuned in to upbeat music.

Try something different.

Look for a workout routine that doesn’t make you feel you are actually exercising. You can engage in a new sport, say boxing or martial arts. You may also consider backpacking with friends. As long as you are keeping your body moving, it’s fine!

Set a reward.

What about a new pair of clothes after completing a 5-day workout programme or losing a few pounds after a month? If you want immediate reward, a soothing massage after your workout session would be awesome. Anyway, you deserve it!

Join a class.

There’s something really motivating about being in a group of people who have the same health goals as yours. Socialising with others makes exercise less exhausting and more enjoyable.

Divide, and conquer!

You don’t really have to push yourself if you can’t finish an hour of intense physical workout routine. Why not cut it into several times during the day? Maybe you can finish the first part in the morning and the second part of the workout session later in the day. Anyway, the benefits still add up so it’s really okay.

Track your progress.

Nothing gives you more motivation than seeing the results of your hard work. Keep a workout journal, focusing on the health benefits you’ve gained since the first time you exercised. 

Just smile (even when it hurts)

Researchers at UC Berkeley suggest that smiling (whether genuine or fake) triggers changes in the brain that makes a person feel happier. So whenever you feel like stopping in the middle of an exercise, just cheer yourself up by smiling.

Once exercising has become a habit of yours, you will find it more enjoyable that during the days when you couldn’t work out, you will feel bad. Yes, exercising is somehow addictive but it’s something you should be happy about.