5 ways to add variety to your workout

A UF study from 2000 found that adding variation to exercise routines helped participants stick with their routine longer.

It also decreased boredom and improved enjoyment in general exercise.

“One of the main reasons people stop exercising is that they get bored,” Christine Spain, director of research, planning and special projects for the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports said. “Variety is good for other reasons, too. You should do cardiorespiratory exercises one day and then strength training and flexibility the next and then alternate days.”

Here are five easy ways to add variety and make it more fun to achieve your goals:

1. Work out with a friend- Get fit with a pal. You two can push each other and introduce new exercises to the group. Try to pick a workout partner with different strengths than you. You’ll both gain something new.
2. Take a class- Want to improve on balance or become a better dancer? UF has plenty of workout classes that incorporate good music with strength training, dance or cycling. 
3. Hit the weight room- Many people are scared of the weight room, but it can be a welcome change to incessant cardio. With strength training you can start small and build up muscle tone over a period of time. Make sure to rest your muscles by stretching and icing when first beginning.
4. Mellow out- Take rest days! It keeps you fresh and relieves boredom. One rest day a week helps muscles recuperate effectively.
5. Do what you enjoy most- Find what exercise excites you most and do it often. If you loved basketball in high school, get some friends together for a pickup game. Love the feeling of sore muscles? Go to the weight room. Exercise should be fun and rewarding.