So it’s mid-February and your New Years Resolutions are somewhere in the back of your mind, collecting dust. You’re headed to the gym with a stale face. Working out has gotten…well…a little boring. But NO FEAR. Here are 6 ways to boost your lame-o workouts to something totally motivating and calorie-burning. 

6 Super Easy Ways To Boost Your Boring Workouts:

1. Interval Cardio:

Let’s be honest. Running on a treadmill or elliptical can get pretty repetitive. But with interval cardio, you’re continually changing the speed and incline to not only keep you engaged, but help keep your heart rate up.

Ever heard of HIIT training? Wikipedia wonderfully describes it as: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) or sprint interval training (SIT), is a form of interval training, an exercise strategy alternating short periods of intense anaerobic exercise with less-intense recovery periods. HIIT is a form of cardiovascular exercise. 

This is awesome for your heart, plus it’s actually fun. You alternate between fast-walking, walking uphill, sprinting, jogging, etc. and if you run to an awesome, fast-paced (tip: EDM is the way to go!) you’ll actually enjoy your cardio.

2. Super-Set Your Lifts.

Lifting is great for you, that’s a no-brainer. But even the most religious weight-lifters get a little bored sometimes. If you’re feeling stuck in your workouts, try super-setting. What this means is that you give yourself little to no rest time between sets.

Ex: You do a set of 8 squats, followed immediately by a set of 4 squat jumps, then a set of 8 lunges. Then rest, and complete the next three sets of squats, squat jumps, and lunges with no rest in-between.

This is an easy way to spice things up and give yourself a challenge. It of course, keeps your heart pumping, but can be fun. And will leave you totally exhausted, yet rejuvenated at the end.

3. The Playlist Ab Pump-Up.

Make a kick-butt playlist and start it as soon as you’re at the gym. Use this playlist to guide your ab workout.
Ex: Whenever there’s a chorus you do non-stop ball crunches. With each verse you hold a plank.

This lets your music fuel you, encourage you, and give you a good, productive workout that you wouldn’t normally have. Plus it makes time go faster because you’re focused on the music rather than your screaming stomach muscles.

4. The Walk-And-Read.

Some days you just aren’t feeling an intense workout, and that’s okay. But it doesn’t mean you get to slack off. On your laziest days, jump on an elliptical, treadmill, stepper, etc. on a high incline and read a book! You can alternate inclines, but keep yourself engaged and challenged (while simultaneously distracted by a romance novel). It’s super easy and you’ll be amazed how quickly a forty-five minute workout will fly by.

5. The 10-Min Switch.

Sometimes we get bored with doing the same thing for an extended period of time. Change things up with the 10-Min-Switch. Whatever your workout is for the day, break it into 10 minute segments. That means 10 min cardio, 10 min lifting, 10 min cardio, etc. Change what you’re doing for each segment of the workout to keep yourself engaged and motivated.

6. The Buddy System.

Nothing gets us out of a rut than being forced to get out of it, right? Partner up with a buddy and plan to hold one another accountable. Push yourselves to complete the workout, to keep going even when you’re tired, and to prove the other person wrong. Sometimes a little friend motivation goes a long way. No swolemate? Watch a workout DVD or podcast and try to keep up. This will be a good (and tough) change of pace.