It's no secret that exercise is good for you—breaking a sweat can do amazing things for your mood, your heart, your energy levels, and overall, how strong and capable you feel in your everyday life. So it makes sense that fitness-related goals and New Year's resolutions are so popular: The benefits are hard to argue with.
Unfortunately, this doesn't always translate to liking exercise. Sometimes, working out can feel more like a chore than an empowering step toward better health. This is an all-too-familiar feeling for me—I used to hate working out. Like, really hate it. My freshman year of college, I'd begrudgingly jog around the indoor track a few times a week, counting the laps until I hit 2 miles. Not because I liked it, but because it was what I thought I should do.
For years, it never actually occurred to me that I could find a way to enjoy exercise. I assumed that it was supposed to be boring and hard, at least for me.
My fitness "revolution" came during my senior year of college. I decided to quit doing workouts I hated and started replacing them with ones I didn't mind so much (and would eventually learn to love). This helped me stop thinking of exercise only as a means to get to a certain number on the scale (or a punishment for myself when I didn't see it). Instead, I started to tune into how good I felt mentally when I was working out consistently. And much to the surprise of freshman-year me, I started to actually like working out.
Don't get me wrong—I still don't love every second of every workout, and there are days when I have a hard time lacing up my shoes and getting out the door. But on the whole, I can't imagine going back to that feeling of misery surrounding exercise.
Finding what worked for me took some effort, and it didn't happen overnight—and the things that finally got me excited about exercise might not be the same for you. But if you're feeling a little blah about your own fitness routine, try these six tips trainers suggest to help make working out more enjoyable.
1. Enlist a friend to make your workouts part of your social calendar
Grabbing a friend to hit up the gym with you really is a great way to make a workout feel more fun and meaningful. If you're taking a class together, you'll be able to chat before and after, and you'll have someone to exchange disbelieving glances with when the instructor says, "Just one more rep." And if your schedule is always packed to the brim, working out with a friend is an efficient way to consolidate your fitness plans and your social life.
Having a buddy can also help you feel more comfortable in a new environment. "Folks are often turned off by the gym or exercise classes because they feel intimidated, or like everyone is staring at them," Molly Galbraith, C.S.C.S., co-founder of Girls Gone Strong, tells SELF. "Going with a friend decreases the intimidation factor, and bonus: They act as an accountability partner, too!" You’ll be less likely to bail at the last minute if you're meeting a friend.
2. "Date" different workouts to find one you don't hate
"When many of us think of exercise, we picture someone slogging away on a treadmill for hours, or sweating up a storm and about to pass out running stairs. But exercise doesn't have to be like that," says Galbraith. What comes to mind when you think of a "good workout" doesn't necessarily mean it’s right for you.
The only way to find out what you like is to experiment. "Think of exercise like dating," says Galbraith. "Maybe you don't like running, but you enjoy lifting weights. Keep trying new things until you find your jam." Yes, it's important to include both strength and cardio in your overall routine, but you can try different workouts to find the ones you like that also check those boxes.
Trying new things definitely requires getting out of your comfort zone, which can feel scary—but it's worth it. I personally discovered that barre class and CrossFit weren’t for me, but I was obsessed with boxing and Pilates (and still am). "Try activities that are new and different, and give them two to three tries to see if they appeal to you," says Morrison. Once you've given a workout a fair chance, you can decide if it's something you want to build into your routine or leave behind.
3. Find an interesting workout that doubles as a hobby
Dating different workouts also means thinking outside the box with what you consider a workout—there are plenty that can double as hobbies (and even become a full-on passion).
"Martial arts, rock climbing, and hiking are all great examples," Adriana Morrison, a certified personal trainer at Pura Vida Fitness & Spa in Denver, Colorado, tells SELF. Sign up for a beginner jiu-jitsu class, put yourself out there in an adult dance class, or drop in at indoor recreational soccer league. The possibilities are endless—but again, the only way to know if you enjoy it is to try.
The great thing about these types of activities is that you can grow with them as you become more advanced or get deeper into the community. And if you're someone who has a hard time working out just for the sake of working out, doing something you love that happens to be physical can make working out feel less like a chore, and more like pursuing a passion.
4. Customize your workout schedule for your life — and stick to it
There's no "right time" to exercise, and everyone's different, so play around with times and days that work for you.
For example, if you spend your days dreading the workout you planned for after work, try switching to morning workouts. If you dread morning workouts, choose another time (maybe even your lunch break). This goes for days of the week, too: If you know one day is always really busy, make that your rest day. "Look at your schedule and locate the days and time frames you can commit to, then put that into your calendar," says Morrison. Once you've established a schedule, do your best to stay consistent to turn it into a habit.
Just make sure you don’t over-commit. "If you don't currently exercise or engage in physical activity, setting a goal of moving your body six days a week for an hour is probably not sustainable," says Galbraith. If you really don't enjoy working out, planning to do a lot of it probably won't change that. It's more likely that you won't be able to keep up with it, which can be discouraging.
Start with something more doable, like 30 minutes three days a week—or whatever makes sense for you. You can always work up to more. "Setting a small goal and accomplishing it will build momentum, boost your confidence, and motivate you to keep going," says Galbraith.
5. Tap into what motivates you
Take some time to think about what you want to get out of your workout routine and what motivates you. "Look at the overall picture and remember why you started," says Morrison. Mindlessly grinding it out at the gym can feel draining, but connecting to what it is that you really want out of your workouts can give you a real sense of purpose. Maybe your goal is a better mood, more confidence, higher energy levels, a stronger body, or all of the above—or something totally different.
From there, you can prepare for daily fluctuations in your motivation. "Have a plan for mindset shifts," suggests Morrison. "Have some inspirational sayings posted in areas where you can see them to remind you to keep going. There are [even] inspirational quote apps that can send you daily reminders to maintain a positive attitude." Set up a playlist of songs that get you going, create a Pinterest board of body-positive mantras, text an encouraging friend—whatever it is that gets you going.
"Mind over matter" may sound cheesy, but simply having a good attitude about working out can make a huge difference. It may take some time to get to the point where you enjoy your workouts, but it's worth the effort—trust me, exercise feels a whole lot better when you don't hate it.
The post How to Break Out of a Workout Rut if You Sort of Hate Exercising appeared first on SELF