Hi friends,

Exercise does not need to be boring. Some find it enjoyable to run an hour straight on a treadmill and are happy as a clam. If I run for more than 5 minutes on a treadmill I may die of boredom. So you will rarely find me running a treadmill.

Others find a regimented weightlifting program inherently enjoyable (me and other lunatics). But I understand that lifting weights alone is not everyone’s cup of tea.

Exercise burnout and boredom are commonplace in people who workout regularly, and those who are early on in their exercising careers. But this need not be the case.

We are living in 2024 where the mode of exercise selection is nearly infinite. So, if you’re bored with your current exercise routine, here are a few ways that you can spice it up.

1. Try a new sport. It doesn’t matter how old you are, you’re never too old to learn a new sport. This is a great way not only to challenge your body physically but also mentally.

2. Take an exercise class. I’ll be honest, I rarely ever do this because most of the time I prefer to do my own program, but I know many people who’d rather show up and have someone else come up with the plan. The class could be pilates, yoga, CrossFit, cycling, or kickboxing. Just switch it up.

3. Exercise with a friend. Having someone to workout with can help to keep you accountable. It’s also more fun to push each other each workout.

4. Take it outside. Exercising in nature is a huge hack. You won’t find me on a treadmill very often, but I don’t hate running as much when it’s outdoors, especially in a scenic area to distract me from the suffering. It can also be a nice excuse to go out in nature if the majority of your working day is spent indoors.

5. Change your program. If you’ve been doing the same exercise regimen for the past 5 years, you’d likely benefit from more variety in your exercise selection. For example, if you like to lift weights for 3 sets of 10 repetitions, you can try to lift heavier in a lower rep range. Or if you never do cardiovascular training, maybe try biking for 30 minutes a couple of times per week.

Exercise doesn’t need to be or should be boring. The ways to switch up your program are abundant, you just need to be willing to try something new and look a little stupid in the beginning. But if you never try something new because you don’t want to fail, how will you grow?

Until next week,

Kevin