Do you sometimes feel like your workouts are boring ?
And could it be that you need something “ engaging ?”
If so, that’s a very common problem and in this email, we’re going to fix it .
In fact, I was just on a call with a personal client on Monday and we were talking about this same topic.
For him, it was about doing his healing work vs. his kettlebell work.
His kettlebell work is way more exciting and because of that, he was having a hard time doing his restoration work because it was “ tedious ” in relation to the KB work.
So, let’s start where he and I started:
1- PURPOSE:
What is the “purpose ” of your training?
Get stronger ?
Trim down?
Get rid of aches and pains ?
Notice how each of these 3 things - along with any other target / goal is a DESTINATION .
In the case of those 3 destinations, once you reach them, you’ll feel like you’ve succeeded - because you have.
2- PROCESS:
Each result … target … endpoint … has a process…
Procedures that you follow, like a roadmap 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 several routes - all of them head from west to east.
The one you take is influenced by 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 alike.
3- PARADIGM:
A paradigm is your stance on something.
Now that we’ve been made aware that workouts are for a definite purpose - goal achievement…
We need to transform our paradigm - our perception of them - our frame of reference.
If workouts are to be “ enjoyable ” - which is what we’re really saying when we’re saying “these workouts are boring …”
Then we’ve lost perspective of their purpose.
I told my client that if his workouts were tedious , 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 boring , your life is likely lacking true entertainment and you need to go find that apart from your workouts.
Examples would be a pastime or a game - stamp collecting, hiking… That sort of thing.
And this is why so many people remain unchanged year after year …
They bounce from workout plan to workout plan - failing to complete - and end up with nothing to show for it because they’ve forgotten of the purpose of that plan -
To accomplish their stated goal.
And to me, that’s the very definition of uninspiring -
Doing the same durn thing and never having anything to show for kettlebell it.
This making sense so far?
I hope so.
So, what’s the easiest way to “alleviate ” boredom in your workouts (besides finding a hobby or sport or activity)?
Use focused diversity .
What’s that?
Easy .
It’s different versions 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 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 drawbacks, but it’s all overhead work that challenges the upper body musculature in the vertical position.
Make sense?
Perfect.
Now, next time you feel unmotivated in your workouts, remember the purpose of your program - to get you to your goal.
Worst case scenario, add some better music.
Stay Strong,
Geoff Neupert.