Getting bored at the gym

[eddiehaskell]

It sorta seems like working through boredom is the mental challenge of staying fit. If you allow mental weakness to creep in you may eventually give up fitness all together and spend that time on the couch watching tv. I think our brains will subconsciously have a natural tendency to avoid strenuous/hard activities.

Therefore, I'd say you have to suck it up and keep pushing through the boredom. Your body/mind are like new soldiers, but your inner drill sergeant must demand those maggots to push through.

I saw a professor on tv yesterday and she mentioned that in the digital age people's attention spans are getting shorter and shorter. We are essentially getting bored more quickly without some kind of flashing stimulus like a phone/tv/tablet constantly in front of our face. I find myself getting like this and when moments of boredom pop up (let's say waiting in line at a store), I instantly want to grab my phone and check something. My dad on the other hand doesn't use a smartphone so he can easily wait in line with nothing to do (like I used to do).

[jobaba]

Originally Posted by GeePee

what does everyone do to not get bored with a gym routine.
I like my gym and I usually have no problems going. Some days I just feel like the routine is very monotonous

I try and go when there's a sports game on.

That way, instead of sitting in front of the TV and watching the game for 45 minutes, I'm watching the game and running for 45 minutes...

[grad_student200]

Originally Posted by GeePee

what does everyone do to not get bored with a gym routine.
I like my gym and I usually have no problems going. Some days I just feel like the routine is very monotonous

Gym workouts help me blow off steam from the daily ups-and-downs of my job as a software engineer. There is a lot of company politics. So a cardio workout usually helps me feel much better. I am studying online courses in engineering and read my notes while doing moderate cardio. It's efficient.

With that said, that gym does get repetitive and boring if done for too long. So on weekends I go to a local mountain and do a fierce hiking regimen. The trail is actually not that long (1.2 mi) to the summit. But it's like climbing a staircase for 1.2 miles up jagged rocks and boulders. it's a rugged trail and a fantastic workout. There are many levels of hikers on the trail: beginner, intermediate, young, old, elite, competitive, etc. Usually, a great workout is to simply try and catch up to someone about 3 to 7 minutes ahead up the trail. After about 10 minutes the cardio intensity and heat get really extreme - a fantastic workout. My VO2 max has gone up by far since I moved back from FL to AZ - my home state. The average hiker probably makes it up in about 40 - 45 min. Local experienced hikers can get to the summit in less than 30 min on a hot summer morning. The elite can run most of the trail to the summit in < 20 min. Regardless, it's a great experience for all levels.

The panorama from the top is awesome in Central Phoenix. Then the hike back down is intense because people spend a lot of energy going up. The trail down can be hazardous if not done carefully. Some people run hard but it's dangerous. The hike down is a great workout too. Overall, it breaks the monotony of the gym. I love it on weekends.