While fitness is pretty much all about building routines, that structure can become a problem at times.
As you repeat the same actions over and over, they no longer leave a lasting impression in your memory. Each even just sort of blurs together to create an effect known as Groundhog Day Syndrome.
So, how can you get out of this rut? How can you change things while still moving toward your goals?
Here are just five small tricks to help you break out of your fitness rut.
1) Switch Up Your Workout
This might seem like an obvious one, but a simple way to break out of a workout rut is to just change your workout.
What's a little easier to miss, though, is just how many things you can adjust while till moving toward your ultimate goal.
Lifters can try new exercises or different types of equipment. Runners and other cardio athletes can follow different routes for a change of scenery or try a new training style.
Even trying out new gear – like clothes, shoes or gloves – could be enough to refresh your workouts.
2) Reexamine Your Goals
Another way to liven up your workouts a little is to check your goals. Very often, large fitness goals can be broken down into smaller, incremental efforts.
If you're looking to improve your performance in a particular sport, for example, you could break up the year into periods designed to focus on specific aspects of your fitness.
Strength, mobility, power and endurance can all be given their own workout period during the course of the year.
This would give you a reason to totally overhaul your workouts every few weeks while keeping your moving toward your bigger goal.
3) Try New Recipes
It's pretty easily to fall into a run when it comes to diet. You can pretty quickly get comfortable throwing together the same meals every day or tossing the same ingredients into your blender for the same shakes every day.
Not only will this impact that amount of enjoyment you get out of those meals, though, it could impact your overall health.
In order to get the most out of your diet, you should be eating a wide variety of foods that provide you with tons of different nutrients. Make an effort, then, to try new recipes regularly.
This is especially important when it comes to your protein shakes, which can become monotonous and unappetizing in short order.
4) Get A Community
Relying solely on yourself can make it difficult to enjoy your routine. Getting other people involved, though, will help keep you accountable while adding some healthy competition to your workouts.
Classes are a great way to build the social aspect of your fitness routine. Joining a class will also give you the chance to build new skills and try new workouts.
5) Take A Break
It might be that you simply need to take some time off. After following the same routine for weeks or months, you might start to burn out both mentally and physically.
Take off a week or two to give yourself time to fully recover.
