So, you're telling me that finding the motivation to exercise is hard? Stop the presses, alert the media! In a groundbreaking revelation that surely deserves a Nobel Prize in Common Sense, fitness experts have once again told us what we already know: Working out can be a drag.
Enter Kaitlin Reilly, who decided that what the world needs now is not love, sweet love, but rather a list of painfully obvious tips to get us off the couch. Because, you know, our collective will to move was just waiting for another article to tell us how to tie our shoelaces and sweat a bit.
First off, we're advised to "switch it up." Luke Carlson, a man apparently thrilled by the radical concept of doing exercises in a different order, suggests this can "spark some excitement." Wow, moving from bicep curls before squats instead of after? Hold onto your yoga mats, folks, because this is the kind of innovation that disrupts lives.
And then there's the revolutionary "start with just 10 minutes a day" approach. Because nothing says commitment like giving just enough time to barely break a sweat. Ellen Thompson assures us that starting small can prevent us from losing momentum, which is code for "if you only do it for 10 minutes, it's not long enough to realize how much you hate it."
Now, let's talk about putting exercise on your calendar. Lee Holden suggests scheduling your workout like any "other essential task." Because nothing is more motivating than treating your exercise routine like a dental appointment. "Morning, afternoon, evening—it doesn’t matter," says Holden, as if the universe will rearrange itself to accommodate your midday jog.
To "squash barriers," Alex Banta advises us to visualize our workout in the context of our day. Pack your gym bag the night before, she says, because obviously, the biggest thing stopping you from getting fit is that you forgot your sneakers.
And of course, no cliché-ridden fitness advice column would be complete without the old "find a buddy" trope. Nothing like sweating profusely next to someone you care about to really solidify a relationship. Martyn Oakey tells us that working out in a group can create a "sense of community," as if the shared agony of burpees is the foundation for lifelong friendships.
Lastly, "treat yourself" but not with something as indulgent as a cupcake—no, no, save your favorite podcast for the gym. Because nothing says 'I love working out' like needing to bribe yourself with the latest true crime episode to even consider stepping on a treadmill.
In conclusion, if you were looking for new and exciting ways to motivate yourself to get fit, you might be slightly disappointed. But hey, at least now you know you can change the order of your exercises. Groundbreaking!