You workout the recommended 4-5 days a week. You do your cardio for 30 minutes religiously. You lift weights. You eat considerably healthy. Everything is great, your doctor brags about you to her other patients… but… you’re bored! You haven’t changed your routine in months (years), you have a name for “your” treadmill and you see all the same people at the gym everyday, to the point where you actually notice if someone is missing!
Here are a few ways to change things up, just for your own sanity!
1. Try a new gym—a lot of gyms have numerous locations. Try to go somewhere just a little farther away; even if you do the same lifting routine, sometimes just being around a new crowd makes you want to work harder! Also, most gyms offer a week free pass, so you might want to try a new gym altogether!
2. Workout with someone new—if you are used to working out alone, sometimes it’s nice to get a partner and follow what THEY do, even if they train for different goals. A new perspective and maybe some new moves might help get your motivation going
3. Train at a different time—if you know the front desk girls’ name as well as her baby’s name and what her major is, maybe you need to meet the rest of the staff and gym goers! Try going much earlier or much later! Almost like going to a new gym, you may get amped up by seeing a new crowd.
4. Sign up for a race or event—training for a race, a mud run, triathlon or some kind of event will get you training in different ways. It may also inspire you to get outside sometimes. We could all use a little fresh air for the soulJ
5. Switch up your days—try a 3 or a 5-day split. Train on a weekend instead of one of your usual weeknights. Maybe you can do something with the family on Friday night instead of walking on the treadmill. Just a little jolt from the normal routine might be just what your body ordered.
Sometimes we are doing everything that we are supposed to be doing, but we just don’t have the same motivation or gusto anymore. We all get into habits and working out is a great habit, but if you aren’t enjoying it anymore, you may not be receiving all the benefits. Mix things up a little, and heck you might find your passion again!
Comments
comments
This post was very relevant to me! I get bored extremely easily… I workout very hard and truly enjoy every aspect of fitness (well,,, I’m not crazy over the treadmill for any length of time), but it becomes far too easy to fall into that complacency trap…. doing all the right things but without the proper vigor! My husband is in the military, so we move every two years on average. Just as my gym environment starts to feel a bit stale we move! Ha! Even with constant relocations I require new exercises, new equipment, new gym toys, etc. to keep my motivation peeked. I’ve made a mental note of your suggestions and will pass this great post along!
Krista
In response to Krista….up to about 3 months ago when I was at the gym for cardio it was treadmill, stairmaster and elliptical…I was getting so bored and then I started going to Spinning Class and I love it…you burn 500-600 calories a session and I am soaked and exhausted when done!
Christy
My added advice would be a new pair of sneakers/running shoes. Some times working out doesn’t feel as good as it should because you’re shoes are past their prime. A pair of running shoes last 6 to 8 months or 300 to 500 miles, added into that total is when you wear them to the supermarket not just when you’re working out. If your knees are starting to hurt, or your legs are feeling tired go and get fitted for new shoes at a local running store. It can make a world of difference to be in proper and new footwear!
oh this is such a great idea and so true for me– new shoes or clothes will do it!
Yesss! #4 for sure!
Great timing on this post! I struggle with this on and off. Lately I’ve been doing mini personal challenges — like maxing my squats, trying a new (or previously hated) machine a try (hello stairmaster… ugh), etc — but I’m starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel with new ideas haha
Any tips for someone with a home gym? I am about an hour away from a real gym, but I have equipment at home (and almost every workout-on-DVD set ever made). I also have almost NO motivation, just obligation. Help!
I feel I’ve totally lost my motivation to workout. I love this and I’m thinking a new pair of workout shoes will help. I used to workout 6 days a week at home now I can’t even wokout once. I love this post, thanks so much.