Working out is hard. You’re going to have to exert yourself, you’re going to sweat, and you’re going to be tired after. But does it have to be “work”?

 

There are a lot of people who don’t enjoy working out. It is something they have to do, not something they want to do. And this tends to lead people to doing it in the easiest, quickest fashion, or just skipping it altogether. Why do something you don’t enjoy doing?

 

During my first sessions with new clients, I always ask them if there are any exercises they really enjoy doing, and any that they really hate doing. As a fitness professional, it is my job to get you to work out, but how am I going to do that if you never actually want to work out? If there’s something you actually don’t mind doing, I’m going to include that more. On the flip side, if you really despise doing, say, burpees, then I am going to omit them from the majority of the workouts. There’s nothing saying you have to do any exercise to get fit and healthy; find exercises that you enjoy to do, and do them more! Sometimes it’s easier to eliminate exercises that you don’t like more than emphasis exercises that you do like. If you have a plan in your head to go for a run after work but you really hate running, do you think you’re actually going to get that run done? Probably not. But if you hate running, why are you making that your main exercise goal? No one says running is the key to a fit body! Ditch that run and find something else that you don’t mind doing, like a little body weight circuit, a bike ride, or even a brisk walk.

 

What if it’s not the exercises? What if it’s the amount of time that it takes to get a workout in that is causing you extra stress and abhorrence towards exercise? It can be hard to find an hour every day to get a workout in. But wait… who said you have to work out for an hour every day? There are great workouts that you can do that can get you from start to finish in as little as 15 min! HIIT workouts (High intensity interval training) are fantastic for getting a quick workout in that makes you sweat. Bodyweight circuits can be done around the house as well, so you could have your workout started and finished in a mere 20 min, and then just pick up where you left off with your household duties. Also, if there are certain exercises that you want to do, such as walking, but you feel like you don’t get a good enough workout in unless you go for a long time, try switching up the parameters a bit! Walk a little faster, or try walking in a different terrain with hills and valleys. If you walk on a treadmill, add in a little incline to make it a bit more challenging.

 

The easiest way to enjoy your workouts is to change your mindset. Don’t say “I have to work out today”, say “I get to work out today!”. Don’t look at it as a chore that has to get done; exercise can be fun, and can be an escape from the other stresses in your life. Use it as stress release – the gym is your place to release any built-up tension that you have acquired from work/ school/ kids/ family/ you name it! If you enjoy some time to yourself, then just throw in some headphones, zone out, and crush a good workout. If you like working out with friends, use exercise as an excuse to get together with a friend and hang out for a bit.

Find exercises you enjoy, set time aside for you to get these exercises done, and go into it with the mindset that this is your time to do what you want with no other interruptions from life! The hardest part is getting started, so if you can make it easier to start your workout, then it’s smooth sailing after that.