5 Fun Ways to Work Out

When it comes to exercise, motivation is key.  While it’s certainly better to exercise than to skip it for the day (or week…), the fact is that you get more out of your routine when you actually enjoy what you’re doing.  The incentive to keep exercising, and to do it regularly, increases greatly when you’re having fun, so why not integrate some variety into your fitness routine?
Here are five suggestions of things you can do to work out with a little extra spice.  Feel free to leave further suggestions in the comments section below!

1)  Dancing
One common misconception about exercise is that if it’s fun, it’s not really exercise.  Well, put that false statement to rest by dancing your heart out!  Dancing utilizes more muscles than you even realize, and its value as a fitness tool is often overlooked.  Perhaps the best thing about dancing is that it’s 100% personalized from the very start!  You choose the music, you dance in a way that you’re comfortable with and, if you’re doing it in public, you can meet many interesting people as you do it.  Depending upon the dance, you may even be getting a workout comparable to a strenuous session at the gym.  Let’s boogie!

2)  Racqueteering
Looking for an inexpensive, fun activity that will keep your mind and body engaged, and also keep you fit?  Try racquet sports.  For the price of a racquet (or two) and a canister of balls or birdies, you can play a game of badminton with a friend, and you’ll feel the impacts almost immediately.  For those seeking a stronger workout, try tennis.  Whether casual or hardcore, you will benefit greatly from the movement involved, and the quick thinking required will turn you into an addict before you know it!  Can’t find a friend to play with regularly?  Find a wall and teach yourself racquetball.  The possibilities are endless!

3)  Shadow Boxing
As the poet Martin Klein once said, “My shadow, / –my brace– / my victim you become.”  Show your shadow who’s boss with a few quick jabs!  Turn up the song that gets you most pumped, make sure the lighting is right, and engage your own shadow in a lively round of fisticuffs.  Trying to outsmart your own shadow is a plainly Sisyphean task, but your body doesn’t know that, and you can build muscle with this activity cheaply, quickly, and with great challenge!

4)  Swimming
Who doesn’t love a refreshing dip in the pool, or even hot tub?  Well, guess what!  There’s a health benefit to this as well.  While you may be picturing Olympic swimmers training in an exercise pool, you can derive a great, total-body workout just from swimming some simple laps, or jogging lightly against the jets in an exercise pool.  In fact, if the weather’s particularly nice, take a swim in your nearest lake or ocean.  Your body will thank you, and so will your exercise routine!

5)  Extreme Doggy Sports
They call him man’s best friend for a reason!  Enlist your pooch to help you burn away fat.  Practically anything you do with your dog will have significant health (and emotional) benefits, so whatever you choose to do, just be sure you’re having fun!  You can toss a baseball around, throw a Frisbee, chase each other around, or even just jog with your faithful companion by your side.  Your dog will love the attention (and most dogs could use a workout anyway), and you will have yet another reason to get exercising:  you won’t want to disappoint your puppy!

Adding a little variety to your exercise routine can do more than just keep your attitude toward working out positive. By adding new things to your workouts you will keep yourself interested, and keep your body from getting bored with repetition.

Remember, it’s up to you to decide which of these activities will work best for your needs.  But we think any variety is good variety, so give it some thought, and let us know what other activities you come up with!