Exercise: Beat the Boredom
- Lisa Wright Burbach
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
Do you struggle to stay consistent with exercise because you get bored? I do!!
Especially if I’m doing an online yoga, cycle, or treadmill exercise. I want to quit early and find it difficult to work harder. What should we do to beat the boredom?
Let’s Beat the Boredom!
Change up your routine. It’s possible you feel bored because of too much repetition. Try a new workout or instructor and see if it is a little more interesting.
Distractions. If you find the bike or treadmill boring, try listening to a podcast or an audiobook, or watching a movie or show while you work out. This can cause your mind to be distracted and help it feel like the time goes by more quickly.
Challenge yourself. Sometimes we get bored because our exercise routine is too easy. Try something a little more difficult or new to help keep your attention.
Bring a Friend. Working out with a friend or in a group can help on several levels. First, you have a distraction from having others around you, and second, you have some positive peer pressure to stay focused.
Pump up the beats. Try creating an uplifting and invigorating playlist to work out to.
Break it up. Try breaking things up mentally. Like I’m going to warm up for 4 minutes. Then I can do 10 minutes of this exercise. After that 10 tell yourself you’ll work out one more ten-minute section until you finish. By breaking it up, your mind you can stay focused for shorter periods at a time.
Create a competition. Creating a competition with yourself or others can help you push through a workout. It can be something like I’m going to close my exercise ring 4 times this week, or Who can get in their workout before 10 a.m.?
Reward yourself. Don’t sabotage your hard work, but consider rewarding yourself for making it through your exercise. For example, I’ll have a cup of tea and 10 minutes all to myself as soon as I finish.
Think about what is happening and why. I can really struggle during an online Yoga class, but if I think about my form, why my breathing matters, and what I’m trying to accomplish, it can help me stay focused. Try asking yourself what you are accomplishing and what your goal with this exercise is. Examine yourself and find mindfulness in the exercise.
Exercise is a key to living our lives to the fullest and having our healthspan match our lifespan as closely as possible. Let's beat the boredom and push through with the thought, “I do this now so that I can do the things I want to do in the future, I will keep going”. And then enjoy the experience.
What things do you do when you feel bored exercising?
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