One of the most underrated aspects of working out is what I call the “fun factor”. How much do you enjoy what you’re doing in the gym? Do you look forward to going? Do you get excited thinking about your workouts? Do you find you lose track of time while you’re exercising? Do all of your troubles and stresses magically disappear when you walk through those doors?
If you answered yes to these questions, you have what’s known as the “pulling effect”. You’ve found something you love to do and now, instead of the gym being a “nagging necessity”, it has begun to pull you in, instead of pushing you away.
When you enjoy working out, it’s called play…and you’ll make time for it.
When you don’t enjoy working out, you think of it as a chore…and you’ll make any excuse possible to avoid it.
A few things to consider…
- Working out is a privilege, not a chore. Seriously. Think about how lucky you are to even be able to move and exercise at all. There are people who would kill for the opportunity. Don’t underestimate just how much of a privilege it is to be able to move your body and actively work on improving its overall function. That’s something that can’t be taken for granted, although it is constantly.
- It’s not just you who benefits from your hard work. Yes, you reap all the physical benefits, but what about your loved ones? Your friends? Your family? Your co-workers? The benefits of exercise don’t just start and end in the gym, they trickle over to every other aspect of your life. Your attitude changes for the better, your confidence goes up, your communication skills improve…Who knows what this can do to your relationships and how you impact the people closest to you?
- Expand your idea of what “working out” means. Your idea of working out might be different than someone else’s. What exercise means to the 62-year-old grandmother wanting to improve her mobility so she can play with her grandchildren is vastly different than the 22-year-old powerlifter training for their first meet. Working out doesn’t have to mean going to the gym. It can be taking your dog for a walk, playing sports, going on hikes…Exercise isn’t confined to the walls of the gym. Be creative with how you approach your fitness.
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5 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR WORKOUTS FROM GETTING BORING
1. Gym buddy
A training partner is one of the most classic, and effective, ways to keep your workouts inspiring…especially if you’re as competitive as I am. Create challenges amongst each other, keep each other accountable, push each other past what you both thought you were capable of.
It’s easy to fall into the “repetitive loophole” when it’s just you working out. Having someone else there keeps things fresh, exciting, and motivating.
2. Join a class
If you live in Toronto, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to workout classes. You have your pick of the litter when it comes to finding something that fits your schedule, personality, interests, and overall goals. Classes can spark some untapped inspiration and comes with the invaluable and motivating community aspect. You’ll meet new people, learn a lot, and get a great workout while you’re at it. Just make sure you join a good class…
3. Compete in something
“Compete in something? I don’t think that’s for me…”
Well, not so fast. If you’ve never competed in something, or can’t remember the last time you did, the idea of competition can seem a little farfetched. But what if signing up for a competition gave you something concrete to work towards? What if it gave you a clear goal, which allowed you to create a clearer path in your training?
Next thing you know you walk into the gym motivated and instead of just going through the motions, suddenly your workouts have purpose. That’s when things get fun…when you treat each workout as an opportunity to get better and take you one step closer to your goal.
If you go to the gym and lift weights, try entering a powerlifting competition. You squat, bench, and deadlift all the time as it is…so you might as well set some goals for yourself and smash them!
4. Try something completely different
Change the order of your exercises.
Try completely new exercises.
If you do a lot of cardio, try lifting weights. And vice versa.
Training can get stale sometimes, and it’s easy to find ourselves just doing the same thing repeatedly, mindlessly stumbling through our workouts with no fucks given. If that sounds like something you might be going through right now, maybe it’s time to switch things up a bit.
5. Hire a coach
Coaches are there to support, guide, and inspire you on your fitness journey. That’s what they do. I have worked with coaches, and so do many other personal trainers. There is literally no one that can’t benefit from having someone work with them to keep things fun and interesting.
