- Quality over quantity. It’s not how many reps you complete, but how engaged you are during the circuit. So shift your focus from a count to effectively performing the exercise. To do this, set a timer and repeat the move slowly and correctly until the timer beeps.
- Increase the intensity. You may be tempted to switch up your exercise routine to keep it interesting. However, doing so may leave you confused and spending more time simply trying to remember the exercise than actually focusing on it. A better alternative is to stick with your already-existing routine, but increase the intensity in small increments so you can feel the burn.
- Plan ahead. It doesn’t make sense to carve out a chunk of your day to visit the gym if you have no idea what you’re going to do when you arrive. Before you make the trip, devise a plan of action. Doing so facilitates focus while you’re at the gym and prevents you from hopping to one machine after another.
- Schedule your workouts. Dedicate space to exercise in your calendar each day to ensure you don’t skip out. Treat the session like an appointment that can’t be broken.
- Jam out. If you’re engaged in a series of exercises that are particularly intense, fill your ears with tunes, a podcast or an audio version of your favorite book to distract yourself from the pain.
- Start small and work your way up. Don’t get caught in what I like to call the “infomercial trap.” This is when you give in to the seasoned, ripped fitness addicts bouncing across the screen and telling you to hop up off the couch and give it all you’ve got. That is bad advice. A better approach is to smart small and work your way up, especially if it’s been a while since you worked out.
- Hide the timer. Did you set the treadmill for 20 minutes? If you’re winded shortly after you start, glance at the timer and realize only five minutes have lapsed, chances are mental fatigue will set in. Instead, place a towel over the timer. That should eliminate the problem.
- Don’t be afraid to dance. Plug in your iPod or mp3 to a portable speaker and get to moving. Dance like no one’s watching — since they probably are not — and watch the beads of sweat saturate your body.
Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse
I like your work on this site.