Unsurprisingly, 1 in 2 people starting a fitness routine will drop out in the first 6 months. Even with the best of intentions, it can feel like there are so many factors stacked against us, including a lack of time, a lack of drive, and a lack of desire. While we know exercise is good for us, many of us need to do everything we can to improve the fitness experience and better our chances of success.
I definitely fall in the “non-lover of exercise” camp. I’ve had to really push myself to make it a regular habit by focusing on two things:
- Increasing my motivation to work out (full blog post about that here!); and
- Making my workouts more bearable once I’m actually doing them. That’s what we’ll be focusing on today.
In other words, now that we’re in our workout clothes ready to get started, how can we make the process more bearable and something we’re more likely to do again and again? Here are some lazy girl workout hacks that acknowledge your inner couch potato.
Note that these tips are best suited for people working out at home, but you can adapt them to be suitable for your gym!
How to Make Exercise More Bearable
Watch a TV Show or Movie
Putting on a TV show or movie can make working out more fun, and is especially helpful in making cardio sessions go by faster! If you’re walking, running, or riding an exercise bike (this is ours and we love it!), chances are you don’t have to pay too much attention to what you’re doing. The key then, to making it through cardio, is patience and distraction, at least for me.
One benefit of TV over a movie is the duration. My workouts are about 30-35 minutes long followed by 5-10 minutes of stretching, so watching a 45 minute long show is perfect. Since I watch Netflix, there are no commercials, making an hour long show come in at around the 45 minute mark. Looking for inspiration? I wrote a blog post about my favourite Netflix shows here!
If you’re just doing a quick cardio warm up, watch Instagram Stories! I do that when I want something to watch that won’t suck me in like a TV show.
Listen to a Podcast
When you’re doing workouts that involve more concentration, listening to a podcast may be easier than watching a screen. (Think: holding a plank!) As a bonus, you’ll likely be learning something new.
Here are some of my favourites:
True Crime
- Truth & Justice: Probably my favourite all-time podcast. It’s a crowd-sourced investigation into cases where a false conviction seems likely. Every season features a new case, being looked at in real time.
- Generation Why: True crime with a focus on unsolved murders. Each episode is a look at a different case.
- Dirty John: This was my favourite podcast of 2017. It’s a mini-series about a manipulative man and the impact he had on a woman’s family. Fascinating and gripping.
Personal Development
- Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations: I’ve only recently discovered this, but her interview with Cheryl Strayed was fantastic. If you love Oprah, give it a listen.
- The School of Greatness with Lewis Howes: Fantastic interviews with leaders of all types. Thought-provoking and inspiring.
Other
- S-Town: Similar to Dirty John, this was a one-series podcast. It’s considered investigative journalism and centres around one particular man and his family.
- Outta the Park: Sports-based podcast that also delves into other areas like mental illness, health and wellness, among others.
Listen to a Killer Playlist
If music helps keep you moving and energized, build a playlist that will naturally push you to work harder! You can either make your own, or browse the playlists on Spotify (what I normally do!). If you don’t have Spotify and would prefer an ad-free option, give Jango a try.
Call a Friend
Have a friend or relative you’ve been meaning to speak to? Maybe you can integrate a phone call into your work out! If you’re doing low-intensity cardio like walking or riding the bike, throw on your headphones and make a phone call, hands-free. This can help your workout fly by.
Multitask
Are there any items on your to do list that you can conquer while you’re working out? Here are a few ideas:
- Take a conference call while walking around the block, or around your house or office.
- Brainstorm for an upcoming project while doing cardio. You can take notes on your phone or after you’re done. Sometimes I use cardio time to think about new blog post ideas.
Working out isn’t always fun, but it can be made way more bearable by making a few tweaks to your routine. Leave me a comment and let me know how you make your workouts more fun!
