Bored when you exercise? The biggest threat to your workouts is boredom

Exercising regularly is a challenge for most of us. Despite being committed to my three-day-a-week exercise program; I found myself yawning as I counted my reps or even wanting to fall asleep during my rest between reps on the mat. A quick visit to the doctor put an end to my fears about a terrible disease that was coming. His diagnosis ‘You are bored when you exercise’.

I consulted my coach, who devised a number of strategies to make my training interesting.

First, I changed my routine. Instead of the brisk 3km walk on the treadmill that I’ve been doing for a while, I divided it into three parts. The TV monitor attached to the treadmill was effective in keeping me distracted for 10 minutes.

Second, I started listening to my own selection of music on my iPod, instead of the sad CD that had been playing continuously at the gym. The upbeat music gave me a positive feeling and I found myself walking faster and even running to keep up.

I also found that talking to the people around you distracts you and time passes faster on the treadmill, elliptical, or bike – routines where you don’t have to count reps.

Instead of doing the three sets of 15 reps for each exercise, I did a new routine with one set of each exercise. Three sets of back-to-back leg and abdominal raises definitely raise the level of boredom.

Varying my exercise time also helped. Instead of three days of 60 minute workouts, I went to 30 minutes in six days. The shorter goal was easier to achieve and gave me a positive sense of accomplishment.

If all of these strategies don’t work for you and you still feel bored when you exercise, then you really have to see why you are bored. Is it because you don’t like to exercise? So maybe you need to change where you exercise. Get out of the gym and try jogging in a nearby park. You can change the time you exercise. If you are not an early riser, try walking at night.

Completely change the way you exercise by engaging in some other type of physical activity, such as walking or dancing. The options are limitless! Find what works for you.

Find an exercise partner. Having a friend to train with provides motivation, takes away the boredom, and gives you someone who will drag you off the couch on days you don’t want to.

Imagine yourself as the transformed person you will be when you have met all of your training goals! Ultimately though, workouts will only be a part of your life only if you really enjoy what you do.