Getting to the gym and working out is hard, there is no denying that. So why not make it as enjoyable as possible? I want to show you a couple tips and tricks to make your workout time pleasant as well as productive.
#1 The buddy system
Things are always better with a friend. Recruit a friend or family member to be your accountability partner. This will really improve your adherence to a workout plan and allow you to just hang out and chat while your resting, changing weights, stretching etc. Plus, people generally push themselves harder when they feel like someone is observing them, especially if it is someone you know or respect.
#2 Use a timer
Nothing is as monotonous as counting reps. It gets old…real fast. That’s why I encourage people to try a time-based approach. Instead of counting to 10, set a timer for 30s and spend about 3s per rep. Once you get a feel for the tempo you can take your attention off the rep tracking and direct it toward the movement. You can use simple time schemes like: 8-minute circuits with 8 reps per exercise. Or more a more complex one: 30s-work, 15s-rest on 3 exercises with 60s breaks at the end of each circuit and multiple circuits. You can even time your breaks so that you know your staying on track and getting enough recovery time. You can find several apps to help make this seamless. Most will even give you audio cues, so you don’t need to keep an eye on the clock.
#3 Entertain your ears
My favorite way to get through a workout is with the help of my earbuds. This can include anything from high energy dance music all the way to audiobooks by 20th century philosophers. It really doesn’t matter what you listen to as long as you enjoy it. Podcasts are also a great option because you can find them on nearly any subject whether it is entertaining or educational.
So, grab a friend or some headphones, set a timer and get to work. Whatever gets you into the gym more frequently is going to be the best thing for you!
-Andy Adams, B.S., CSCS, Pn1
Coach | Trainer #TeamTrivida
