Joyce Balase

10 Ways to Make Exercise Fun We all know that physical activity brings a ton of benefits to our health, but how often do we hear from people who find exercise drudgery? I know the feeling. There are days when I have to drag myself to the gym and that is not a good sign. So I figured I have got to find ways to put the fun back in fitness or I’ll find myself succumbing to distractions, gaining weight and back to square one. If you’re in the same boat as me, try these: 1. Get social. Nope, exercising your thumb on your phone’s screen doesn’t count. Fitness sessions with your partner, friends or workmates makes you enjoy it more. You’re hitting two birds with one stone: getting fit and spending quality time with people who matter. 2. Find the routine that works best for you. Fancy being competitive with mates? Try sports or track and field. Want to learn a practical skill? Learn martial arts for self-defence. There’s a particular style and price point that best appeals to everyone. I myself prefer workouts that increase flexibility such as dancing and yoga. Different strokes for different folks. Find the one that suits you best. 3. Pump it up. Who says exercise is boring? It doesn’t need to be when you’re singing along to your favourite tunes. Spotify has workout playlists to inspire you. 4. Enjoy the outdoors. Is going to the gym a bit of a drag nowadays? Head for the outdoors! Walk through the park, run, hike or bike through a trail in the woods, or enjoy the ski slopes. 5. Avoid overtraining. Sure, a bit of exhaustion is expected as you push your body beyond what it’s normally used to, but don’t do too much or you’ll wake up with sore muscles the next morning and lots of excuses to avoid the gym. Keep a balanced life by indulging in hobbies that aren’t physically demanding. 6. Variety is the enemy of boredom. There comes a point when you think you’ve done everything and your workout efforts stall. Avoid the dreaded exercise plateau by switching up your routine every two to five weeks. Find a new skill to learn in your sport or try a different kind of yoga. 7. Celebrate success, even small ones. If you find yourself losing weight consistently, go ahead and buy that figure-hugging dress you’ve always wanted or show off your newly-toned and sculpted abs with a jaw-dropping selfie (a bit cheeky, but you get the idea). 8. Create a reward system. Find ways to motivate yourself, or you’ll find your interest waning fast after a few sessions. I have a “workout jar” where I put a dollar after each workout session. I later use the money I’ve earned to buy something nice for myself. You can do something similar or find your own system to motivate and challenge you. 9. Use technology. Can’t bring your kids to the gym? Get fit alongside them through “exergaming” using Wii Sport, Wii Fit or similar game systems. You can test your skills alone, or challenge people in different activities from dancing to golf, fishing, tennis or football. Fruit Ninja, anyone? 10. Adopt a cause. Isn’t it nice to know that you’re getting fit and helping people at the same time? Such is the case when you sign up to an event, be it a run for cancer patients, a zumba session to raise funds for your local church or a walk for your favourite charity. When you feel happy doing something, you’re likely to do it more often until it becomes a lifestyle. Make workouts seem less like work!