Let’s Mix Things Up a Bit

There are very few people who could get up every day and do the same workouts at the gym, run the same route, the same number of miles, and the same pace. Chances are, you aren’t one of these people. Having variety in your workouts is important for a variety of reasons.

Injury Prevention

The first major benefit to mixing up your workouts is that it can actually help prevent injuries. If you move your body in the same way repetitively (whether in the gym or on the road) you can develop overuse injuries. The concept of “muscle confusion” forces your body to move in new ways and develop supporting muscles and give the primary ones a break. This can be especially effective if you pick complementary exercises. For example, take a break from running to do some low impact biking, or try lifting with free-weights instead of machines to experience a great range of motion.

Progress

This “muscle confusion” that is created when we break away from routines can also be really helpful in avoiding a plateau. For example, if you run 4 miles every other day at the same pace, it’s unlikely you’ll ever be able to run much further or much faster than you do now. Instead, try an interval workout with 30-45 second periods of sprinting with 60-90 seconds of rest in-between. If you’re more of a lifter than a runner, trying new lifts can help you break a personal best.

Staying Engaged

Finally, the most basic benefit of variety of that it helps you stay engaged with your workouts. If you start to feel bored with your routine or are having trouble motivating yourself, try something fun! This might look like rock climbing instead of lifting, swimming instead of running, or taking a spin class instead of biking alone outdoors. Your routine will always be there for you when you’re ready to come back!

If you’re having trouble staying motivated and are looking for ways to interject variety into your workouts, get in touch with us at Accountability Partners and find out how we can help!