10 Tips to Make Fitness Fun Again

When first making a commitment to exercise, most people are enthusiastic and ready to make changes. Sadly, this feeling quickly wanes for many. So, what can we do to keep our fitness levels up when we feel bored or our motivation fades? The best remedy is to incorporate fun activities into your fitness plan that liven up your workout routine, while will keep your heart rate up for overall health. And with that, here are ten tips to make fitness fun again.

Get New Gear! That’s right, adding new gear like hand weights or even weight gloves can refresh your workout time and make you excited to go to the gym again. Here’s how some new gear can inspire:

· A new pair of shoes can put a new spring in your step

· Investing in a fitness tracker can motivate you to track your progress and keep your enthusiasm up as you reach your goals

· Adding a balance board to your home workout is a fun way to create inner core strength

· New headphones can help you fully enjoy your HIIT routine

Music makes life merrier. If you don’t already, add your own music from your smart phone and listen with a pair of wireless headphones during your workout. Upbeat music keeps you more energized. In fact, studies show that adding music to your workout not only increases stamina and puts you in a better mood, but music that moves to your beat increases motivation and enhances exercise performance! (1) If you already listen to music during your workout, change it up with a playlist you can exercise to, and add a playlist for cool down and stretching, too. For many, listening to music you enjoy helps you look forward to your workout.

Use Gym Classes to help you mix it up. They may feel intimidating at first, but they can also challenge you to do your best. If a workout feels a bit much, you can always pull back by doing less reps, or smaller moves. As your strength and stamina increase, so will your self-confidence. And you might make some friends in the process! Most gyms offer a variety of classes, so you can keep your workouts interesting by changing the classes you use from time to time. This will keep your workouts fresh, so you never get bored.

Get Social! Speaking of exercise classes, try going to the gym at the same time each day. By keeping a regular schedule, you create a healthy habit that makes it easier to get to the gym. You might even run into the same people and make new friends. Remember the gym is a great opportunity to make friends that share your interest in fitness. You can also encourage your whole family to join you and create healthy habits that last a lifetime.

Jump for a change. Remember when you were a child and jumping on a trampoline or bouncy house was so much fun? Rebounders are small trampolines made for exercise, and they bring the fun back into fitness. They use different materials and springs so jumping is easier on your joints. And you can strengthen your entire body by jumping 10 minutes a day! But don’t forget to stretch to make it a complete exercise routine, because jumping is an impact exercise.

Change your scenery. If you go to the gym for your workout, try changing your scenery by exchanging some days for a jog in the park or hike some local trails. Many fitness buffs use the gym for lifting but switch to the great outdoors for cardio. Being in nature is good for your body, mind and soul!

Use a Fitness App to set goals, track your progress, keep an eye on your heart rate and even monitor your diet. Many fitness apps, like Yes.Fit, have social media pages where members meet and share stories. You can get free workout ideas and use the app to virtually travel and exercise in exciting locations. When using creative apps like this, your workout never gets old.

Geocache for treasure. Geocaching has been around for years, and still thrives because it’s fun. Start by registering for free with geocaching.com, type in your zip code and find a location near you. Then use GPS coordinates to locate or plant treasures. Many people play this game while trail hiking or running, and you can even search for trail difficulty that works with your fitness level. And finding a treasure can be motivational and satisfactory!

Dance like nobody’s watching. Dancing is always a fun activity, and is easy if you’re at home alone; just put on some music, set your time and dance! Make sure it’s upbeat so you keep up your heart rate. Many local gyms also offer dance classes for exercise, like Zumba or Barre. If you’re feeling really wild, try a pole dance class!

Seasonal Sports can keep your workout fresh. Many communities offer group sports like soccer or volleyball. If you have a partner, hit the local tennis court. Living near the ocean can provide some the opportunity to surf, paddle board or kayak. Each of these uses a different set of muscles and mixing it up can help you stay fit from head to toe. Winter comes with exciting outdoor sports like skiing or snowboarding. These sports use your entire body and help with balance. And a little mountain air can help you feel alert and refreshed. Other winter sports include ice skating and sledding; and sledding provides a workout as you must constantly walk uphill for that exhilarating ride down!

Go to a park and enjoy the scenery. Many parks have trails for running, walking and biking. And because so many people are fitness conscious today, many offer fitness equipment strategically placed along trails for fun, outdoor circuit training. And most ensure you can fit in an entire body workout while you’re there.

We hope this helped you find fun activities to add to your workout. Changing up your workout routine keeps you motivated longer, and leads to a better chance for success because you will stick with it. Now, get out there and have fun!

References:

1 Karageorghis, C.I., & Priest, D.L. (2012). Music in the Exercise Domain: A Review and Synthesis (part II). International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 5(1), 67-84.