Do you often feel like your workouts are boring ?
And maybe you need something “ engaging ?”
If so, that’s a typical problem and in this email, we’re going to fix it .
In fact, I was just on a call with a exclusive client on Monday and we were addressing this same topic.
For him, it was about doing his restoration work vs. his kettlebell work.
His kettlebell work is far more stimulating and because of that, he was having a hard time doing his rehab work because it was “ uninteresting” in relation to the KB work.
So, let’s start where he and I started:
1- PURPOSE:
What is the “ aim ” of your training?
Increase strength?
Lose fat ?
Relieve pain?
Notice how each of these 3 things - along with any other target / goal is a objective .
In the case of those 3 destinations, once you reach them, you’ll feel like you’ve achieved a milestone - because you have.
2- PROCESS:
Each outcome … objective… endpoint … has a process…
Guidelines that you follow, like directions to get from here to there - where you live, to the other side of your country…
From San Francisco to New York City for example.
There are multiple paths - all of them head from west to east.
The one you take is based on how fast you want to get there.
And of course the mode of transport you want to use - your feet, bicycle, car, plane - walk, bike, drive, fly.
(And of course each vehicle has a cost relation - the faster you get there, the more it usually costs financially, and vice versa.)
Workouts - Training programs are no different .
3- PARADIGM:
A outlook is your view on something.
Now that we’ve been made aware that workouts are for a definite purpose - goal achievement…
We need to adjust our paradigm - our frame of them - our frame of reference.
If workouts are to be “entertained ” - which is what we’re really saying when we’re saying “these workouts are dull …”
Then we’ve forgotten perspective of their purpose.
I told my client that if his workouts were boring , then he was missing the whole point of them.
This gets us back to the purpose.
Their purpose is to meet a goal.
I also told him what I’ve been telling people for the last 20 years :
If your workouts are dull , your life is likely lacking true fulfillment and you need to go find that apart from your workouts.
Examples would be a recreational activity or a physical activity - stamp collecting, hiking… That sort of thing.
And this is why so many people keep repeating the same patterns year after year…
They bounce from workout plan to workout plan - always quitting - and end up with nothing to show for it because they’ve lost sight of the purpose of that plan -
To accomplish their stated goal.
And to me, that’s the very definition of monotonous -
Doing the same tedious thing and never having anything to show for it.
This making sense so far?
I hope so.
So, what’s the easiest way to “ ease ” boredom in your workouts (besides finding a hobby or sport or activity)?
Use focused diversity .
What’s that?
Simple .
It’s variations and options of the same exercise.
Let’s take the Press for instance …
You have the -
Single KB Press
Double KB Press
Single KB Push Press
Double KB Push Press
Single KB Bottoms Up Press
Double KB Bottoms Up Press
Kneeling Single KB Press
Kneeling Double here KB Press
Half Kneeling Single KB Press
Half Kneeling Double KB Press
Single KB V-Sit Press
Double KB V-Sit Press
Each one of those has its own benefits and downsides , but it’s all overhead work that stresses the upper body musculature in the vertical position.
Make sense?
Perfect.
Now, next time you feel uninterested in your workouts, remember the intention of your program - to get you to your goal.
Worst case scenario, put on some better music.
Stay Strong,
Geoff Neupert.