Beat your workout boredom

We all know the importance of exercise. The benefits are more than physical, they’re emotional too. Research by the National Institute of Aging shows that physical activities can help reduce stress, improve your mood and help you sleep better. Why wouldn’t we want to exercise on a regular basis? Because sometimes, it’s boring. 

Staying motivated for fitness can be a struggle but keeping active is crucial to maintaining long-term health for your heart and body. How do you stay motivated to keep moving? Recognizing that you’re bored with your routine is a great first step.  

Find ways to exercise that fit your personality. If you’re a social person, do something that engages you socially – take a group dance class, join a recreational sports team, or start a walking group with friends. Connecting with your friends is a great way to stay motivated, and they can make you accountable to continue exercising.   

Cross-training, which means doing a variety of different exercises or activities, is another good way to keep exercise boredom at bay. For example, you may want to alternate between walking, swimming and strength training. Cross-training also reduces the risk of injuring or overusing one specific muscle or joint. 

Set small, new goals, find an exercise partner or even try exercising at a different time of day.  Enjoy the new activity, and whatever you do, don’t give up.