How Do I Make Cardio Fun?

Have you ever found it challenging to go to the gym consistently? Have you found yourself getting bored with your cardio routine? Spice up your cardio workout with our helpful tips and tricks! 

Change Your Walking Or Running Routine

If your preferred method of cardio is running, walking, or using the elliptical, try spicing up your cardio exercises by altering the distance you’re traveling, your pace, or even your location. 

Pretend your daily cardio routine consists of going to your local gym, hopping on the treadmill, and jogging at a specific pace for one mile. To make your cardio workout more interesting, you could change the degree of incline on your treadmill for the same distance or incorporate interval training while on the machine. 

For those who aren’t familiar with interval exercises, start with something simple like jogging for 1 or 2 minutes at a time, then sprinting for a shorter amount of time. Alternate between bursts of high-intensity, high-energy sprints and restful jogging periods. This method can allow you to ramp up the intensity of your cardio workout for short bursts of time while adding a little variety to your exercise routine. This method of working out is called HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training), and it’s excellent for your cardiovascular health. Interval training isn’t just a running technique—there is a wide range of exercises you can perform using HIIT.

If you want to take your jogging and running to the next level, you can try a complete change of scenery. Try running in your neighborhood instead of at the gym. Map out your preferred route and plan your ideal distance before you take off to make sure you get exactly what you need from your outdoor workout.

To make your workout even more interesting, you could drive to a running trail to get a cool upgrade. If you want to make a vacation out of it, try running on the trails of Colorado’s Western Slope. These paths are said to be some of the most beautiful, aesthetically pleasing locations for exercise in the United States. You can also run near your local beach or lake for a change of scenery.

You can get a great cardio burn in locations of your choice. If the gym isn’t the place for you, there are specific machines you can bring to your own home instead, like the SKI-ROW AIR. 

The SKI-ROW works as a rowing machine and a ski trainer, two excellent cardio options to get your heart rate going. You can use each function of the machine by itself or swap the functions after each set for interval training. 

Add Variety to Your Exercises

By changing your cardio exercises every time you workout, you can drastically improve your engagement levels. Switching up your running and walking routines will make them more enjoyable, but why not try switching up the exercise routine as a whole as well? 

If you find yourself getting constantly bored from your typical running and walking exercises, try incorporating different types of cardio exercises into your routine like the SKI-ROW AIR or SKI-ROW AIR + PWR machines from EnergyFit. 

These dual-function HIIT machines are the first of their kind and can assist you in spicing up your at-home cardio workouts. 

The SKI-ROW can be adjusted in only five seconds, which is very convenient if you want to incorporate a large number of movements into your workout. This machine has received countless positive reviews and is an excellent way to bring the fun back into your cardio workout from the comfort of your own home.

Swimming

One popular cardio alternative to jogging is swimming. If you’re already a strong swimmer, you can train by swimming as fast as possible for laps around the pool until you get tired. 

If you want to mix up your swimming routine, you can interval train in the pool as well. Try swimming laps as fast as you can, complemented by slower laps in between. 

If you’re a novice swimmer, treading water is an easy way to burn calories. You can incorporate another form of HIIT by swimming laps, then resting by treading water.

Match Your Audio To Your Workout

A fast and easy way to bring the fun back into your cardio exercises is through audio. If you’re easily bored during your workout, stimulating your brain through playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks can motivate you to focus on the task at hand.

Curating Your Music Playlists

Music is one of the most effective ways to spice up your cardio workout and remain engaged throughout. Think about what you typically listen to during a workout and ask yourself whether it motivates you to achieve your goals.

Instead of relying on the radio, construct dedicated cardio playlists so you can curate your audial experience. Your music should complement your exercise pace. Many cardio experts use BPM (beats-per-minute) to craft their running playlists, attempting to match the beat of the songs with their footsteps. Your workout playlist should follow a bell curve, sloping up during your warmup before hitting a peak, then tapering off as you cool down.

Podcasts

If you’re doing some sort of cardio that isn’t as intense like walking or jogging, consider listening to a podcast, a TED Talk, or an audiobook. These long form listening experiences can also be beneficial during endurance-based workouts like marathon training. 

Your cardio exercise will fly by when you start an hour-long podcast or TED talk. Your workout audio is a personal preference, so make sure whatever’s in your ears complements your training for that day.

Conclusion

If you’re getting bored during your cardio exercises, hopefully these helpful tips will motivate you to find the fun in your workout routine. Switching up your walking and running routines, altering your treadmill habits, or getting a change of scenery in your neighborhood can make your workout feel new again.

You could even step outside of your comfort zone and try interval training to boost your heart rate. HIIT exercise will trim down the length of your cardio workout while achieving a similar burn. 

You don’t need to limit your cardio experience to just running or walking; try different exercises that fit your comfort, whether that’s swimming, cycling, rowing, or even ski training! Machines like the SKI-ROW offer a variety of different workouts on one machine, so you can create a complete home gym from just one piece of equipment.

The best part of a cardio workout is the ability to exercise anywhere, so you don’t have to make the trek to your local gym every morning. Cardio can be performed in the comfort of your own home, at the pool, or anywhere you feel motivated. 

Finally, make sure your audio choices keep you in a great mood while you sweat. Whether you prefer upbeat music or a podcast, listen to something that makes your experience comfortable and enjoyable. If you like what you’re hearing, what you’re doing, and where you are, your cardio workouts will be a blast.

 

Sources:

5 Way To Make Cardio Less Boring | Rocky Mountain Health Plans

10 Best Cardio Workouts for Weight Loss | Men's Journal

Rev up your workout with interval training | Mayo Clinic

How To Build the Perfect Workout Playlist for Your Pace | Livestrong