Boredom Is The Enemy, Variety Is Your Friend

In today’s fast-paced, tech-driven environment, we’re constantly on the lookout for quicker and easier ways to live our lives.

Being bored with our fitness means different things for us all. Whether it’s the repetition of the workout taking its toll, living room workouts becoming less social or motivating as they were during the pandemic, or the beliefs we have in our heads of what healthy looks like that are so unachievable, the benefits of exercise seem slow and intangible.

But what if it didn’t need to be this way, if there was more variety and excitement in our workouts, do we think we’d do more of them?

Realising you might be bored with your current routine isn’t a bad thing, it means you’re ready to mix up your workout to something that suits you, your lifestyle, and goals – and we’re here to help.

Variety is your friend

There are so many possibilities when it comes to fitness and ways of working out. Just because you have a gym membership, doesn’t mean you need to enjoy the gym floor. At Total Fitness we have up to 8 ways of working out, with swimming, classes, personal training, group workouts, and racquet sports to name just a few – there is plenty of variation to keep you motivated.

Alongside our variety of ways to work out, we've asked the experts across our clubs to provide 3 tips that will help to mix up your routine, battle boredom and keep you motivated.

1. Change it up seasonally

When we talk about boredom, it doesn’t have to mean changing your workout each time you turn-up to the gym. Each season brings about its own opportunities to update your routine – whether it’s spending more time outdoors in the spring and summer months or utilising those indoor spaces in winter, adapting your exercises can make a real impact in keeping it enjoyable. We change up our wardrobe, so why not our workout?

In the summer months, being outside and getting the most out of the fresh air and vitamin D is ideal, whether that’s going for a 5k run around your local area or as part of a running club, to getting out and about with the kids. With the longer days and nicer weather (mostly) it can sometimes feel much easier to fit this in around our lifestyle.

When the days get shorter, you may feel less motivated to go out in the cold and dark to exercise, but there are plenty of things you can do at the gym. A run around our 200m running track (available at selected clubs), or a game of squash with a friend for that more competitive element – why not pick a set of summer and winter activities to keep you active all year round.

2. Add a gym class into your weekly routine

There’s a social element to gym classes that can be really valuable in creating that community feel and positive interactive energy that can keep you motivated. With so many to choose from, you could stick to the same class each week, or one you’ve never tried before – we have over 70 classes each week, so you’re sure to find one for you.

Sometimes, when we’re the ones in control of our workout we can often resort to the same exercises and routines, after all... what’s that saying – ‘stick to what you know’. We don’t agree, and instead would encourage you to give everything a go. How else will you discover which ways of working out are best for you?

Classes can often give you more confidence with exercises on the gym floor. We have classes like HIIT and The Rig that incorporate some of the equipment you may not have used, so you’re more familiar with how to use it and the benefits on your body. Other classes like Boot Camp, Body Pump and <insert here> can make you more familiar with weighted exercises that you can do outside of the class too. Having these to mix into your workout is another great way to mix it up and keep it interesting.

Some of our members even go for a coffee together at THRIVE after a class, this can be a great social activity for those who want to meet new people and get involved – or if you just want to drop by and take the class, that’s fine too.

3. Workout with a friend

Each time we ask our members their preferred way of working out, group exercise and training with a friend always comes high on the list.

There’s something about having someone to meet at the gym that keeps us accountable making it more likely that we turn up - and it can be more fun to try out new equipment or exercises when you’ve got someone else alongside you. If you’ve not got anyone in mind, you can always look into getting a Personal Trainer – they can give you that extra push, provide new inspiration and keep you on track.

Since the pandemic made catch-up walks with friends our only socialising activity, we’re much more comfortable now than we used to be at incorporating exercise into our social plans. We replaced going out with friends with walking catch-ups, so why not buddy up in the gym – group exercise continues to rise. Our Squad Sessions are a great high intensity small group workout for up to 4 – whether you know them or not.

Fitness can mean different things for each of us, which means when you bring someone else and their perspective it can be a great way of discovering new exercises, working on muscles you don’t normally train and exploring different ways of working out. The BBC recently reported that friends could be the key to finding fitness motivation.

No matter what your routine, here at Total Fitness we strive to give you variety in your workout. If you’re starting to tire of your usual exercises, don’t let boredom get the better of you.