6 Ways to inject some fun into your fitness routine

To help keep things interesting, we put together the following simple but effective strategies to help add some fun to your sweat sessions.

Workouts get boring when you do the same things day in and day out. If your current fitness routine involves going the gym at the same time every day, getting on the same machine for the same amount of time, it’s time to spice things up! Find out what classes are offered at your gym – from kickboxing to dance to Zumba to yoga, there’s bound to be something you haven’t yet tried but have always been curious about. Try a few different classes to see which ones best suit your personality and fitness level, and add them to your routine. If you don’t have a gym membership, look into dance schools (some have beginner-level hip-hop, jazz and modern dance) or even an activity like rock climbing at an indoor gym. The more you move your body in new ways, the more likely you’ll be to stick to your fitness routine.

Fresh air is essential for boosting energy and feeling great. Move your workout outdoors at least once a week. Even if it’s cold, you can dress accordingly to combat the chill. Go for a jog, power walk around your neighborhood, get on your bike if the streets are dry or join a local sports team once the weather warms up and play baseball, soccer, beach volleyball or whatever interests you, once or twice a week.

There’s no better way to bust out of a fitness rut than to set a goal. What have you been wanting to accomplish? Running your first 10-kilometer race? A marathon? Beating your sister’s time in the last race you ran together? Set a fitness goal and work towards it. Having something to focus on and work toward helps make working out a lot more meaningful and much less of a chore.

One of the best ways to add some fun to your fitness routine is to stop working out solo. Some people enjoy exercising on their own, while others benefit from camaraderie. Enlist a friend or family member to add a new element to some of your workouts. Start a weekly walking or running club with like-minded friends, hit the gym with a workout buddy (a friend, co-worker, your spouse) or implement one family fitness night each week where the whole family gets moving together. Walk or run together, play sports, ride bikes or go hiking to sweat it out together.

Remember how much fun you had being active as a kid? Rekindle your love of movement by doing something that doesn’t feel like work. Skip rope, toss around a ball or shoot hoops with a friend, play tag with your kids or put on your favorite tunes and dance up a storm in the living room. Exercise doesn’t have to mean going to the gym or feeling boxed in by routine. Add one day a week to your workout schedule where you build in something fun, carefree and reminiscent of your childhood.

If you’re bored at the gym or at home while you burn calories, add some entertainment. It’s a simple but effective strategy for feeling more motivated. Put on your headphones and listen to your favorite music, make a workout playlist of songs that make you feel like moving or watch TV while you’re on the treadmill. Distractions can help you pass them time on days where you just don’t feel like working out.