Wish you looked forward to your workouts just that little bit more? Most people find they look forward to the idea of their workout, but then when you get there it's a little less exciting... Working out with a friend fills that void!
Let’s be frank, nobody treats every workout with the same level of excitement as a small child at Christmas (if you do then you should probably be some sort of superhero), but research suggests that people almost always enjoy exercise more than they think they will.
Infact Head Coach at MoveGB, Gray, has a favourite motivational quote...
"If you don't feel like going for your workout... just go, BUT if you don't feel like you're enjoying it 7-minutes in, then stop and go home!"
However, there are always little things you can do to make your workouts more fun and avoid that dejected walk home. Here are one of our top tips...
Make it social!
So, why are your fitness buddies so cool?
- By pairing up with a buddy, you take the focus away from the workout and put the spotlight on socialising with a friend (even if it’s not the normal kind of bar that you’d usually meet up at!)
- A gym buddy can also be a great way to stop you talking yourself out of your workouts – not only do they make you accountable, they can also give you the extra push you need to get through a particularly tough session. You've got your own personal cheerleader in all your workout buds!
So, how do my friends make it easier for me to stick to my habits?
Hold onto your braces, as we're about to get into some old school science here... ready... GO!
As we evolved to be the human bodies that we are today, a huge part of our lives was spent very close to friends and family. Being in a group that will take care of you was the way to go, so feeling safe and happy around others was something that evolution selected to take us to the next level.
This social connection is so powerful that it still dictates our choices in such a wonderful way. The social connection pulls on your motivation, which gets your butt in gear and ultimately results in you (and the others around you) buzzing with happiness. The natural motivations and incentives in life almost always work around us being social in some shape or form. Sounds neat right?!
By only ever exercising solo (which we know so many people struggle to do) and fighting against these instincts during exercise, it makes it harder for ourselves and may end in you skipping more than a few gym sessions.
And if you need any further proof that working out with buddies actually works...
Fitness superhero, Carly, from ProjectHB:
"If there 's one thing that makes me get out of bed and get to class, it's the thought of a friend across the city going through the same pain! I couldn't EVER leave a friend high and dry by abandoning her at a class by herself... If you've agreed to go to a class with someone - that's all the motivation you need to stick to your word and turn up. Friendships are definitely made stronger through sweat!"
Running extraordinairre, Tess, from FitBits:
"I'm a sucker for a group workout! I've made so many new friends in Brighton from the various running, cycling and triathlon training groups I'm part of. I always push myself harder when I'm with others, and I also get serious FOMO if I miss any sessions. It's a lot harder to talk yourself out of going if you know there are people expecting you!"
Bristol's yogi, Kate, from BristolEtc:
"I'm a big fan of pushing myself at the gym, but it's very easy to lose that motivation if you're having an off day! So I like to schedule in a workout with a friend at least once a week - not only does it make all that hard work much more fun, but it also means I'm much less likely to flake out if I'm not quite in a gym mood. The best part is that I then have a partner-in-crime to indulge in a post-workout treat with... such as gelato!"
So there you have it! Working out with buddies is a sure-fire way to help you keep your motivation. Time to give them a ring and get moving - go team!
