Overcoming exercise boredom once and for all

WE’VE all been there. You decide to embrace an exercise regimen and jump into it with gusto and the best intentions. But eventually, you stall, lose interest and give up altogether. Boredom has set in.

Many popular workouts don’t give us much opportunity to express ourselves or be creative. They can be repetitive, tedious, and frankly, unnatural. Running on a treadmill, for example, is likely to make you feel like the subject of a science experiment, a rodent spinning a wheel with your ideal figure dangling in front of you like a piece of cheese.

You could power through the boringness by force of will alone, sticking to your preset program no matter how dull it may be. But it’s not necessary or recommended to dislike what you’re doing. In fact, this is the root of the problem.

If you want to stop being bored while exercising, you’ve got to do something you love. It’s as simple as that. If you’re getting bored, it means you don’t really like what you’re doing that much. Don’t overanalyse the details of your workout; if you simply practice a physical exercise that you love, boredom will be much less of a problem.

With that in mind, we’ll float a few ideas that could help you out of an exercise rut. Just remember, it’s not the whistles, bells and new sneakers that matter – it’s the love of active living.

Go for sports    Humankind has loved recreational sport since antiquity. The strategy, adrenaline surges and thrill of competition associated with sport have always excited us. This is a good way to stay fit without the monotony of an exercise machine. Doing something you enjoy and look forward to is most important. Everything else on this list is, by comparison, just a temporary solution for boredom. You’ve got to love it.

Entertain yourself    Watching TV or listening to music are popular ways to add colour to an exercise routine, but they’re also a sign you consider the exercise a chore. Try applying this technique the other way around. Instead of dressing up your workout with music or movies, augment your movie-and-music time with a little exercise. If you’re so inclined, you can get a great workout at home by playing physically interactive video game consoles like the Wii.

Get a partner    Just about anything can get boring if you’re always left to do it by yourself. Having a partner is not only a great motivator, it can fundamentally change the nature of the workout. Try doubling up with a friend, family member or even taking the dog along. Signing up for a physically demanding class (dancing or tai chi for example) is a great way to find partners and pursue an activity that you enjoy.

Mix it up    No matter how much you enjoy any particular activity, you’ve got to keep things fresh. Alternating your exercise routines, setting up personal rewards or just changing where you work out can put a little more spring in your step. Don’t forget, however, that this approach will not make a boring workout something it’s not. Instead of wasting time and money trying to make exercise seem like more fun, why not just do something physical that actually is fun?