Can Exercise Be Fun?

 

Benefits of Exercise 

Blah, blah, blah.  We all know this part. 

 

Do You Hate the Gym? 

Everyone knows exercise is good for your health and you should do it regularly.  But what if you hate exercise?  Specifically, what if, like me, you don't like going to the gym?  (I don’t want to sweat in front of a bunch of strangers.)  Well good news.  There are alternative gym activities you can do that will give you the same benefits as those intimidating pieces of equipment. 

 

Don’t forget you can always turn your housework and chores into a workout (e.g. rake leaves, vacuuming, mowing, gardening, shovel snow, chop wood). Or, go "organic" like a Rocky movie montage and chase chickens, or punch meat.  But that's about as much fun as going to the gym.  So what are some examples of "fun" gym alternatives?  You know, like when we were kids and physical activity wasn’t exercise, it was just… play. 

 

Fun Ways to Exercise 

40 Fun Ways to Exercise (Without Realizing It) by Steve Kamb offers some suggestions on how to be active and not think of it as exercise.  Most of the examples are geared toward younger people in their prime.  But some good ones for people like me (old) include: 

• Hiking, especially with friends 
• Walking (e.g. walking meeting at work) 
• Live Action Role Playing 
• Geocaching (aka treasure hunting) 
• Dancing (or take a dance class or have a dance party) 
• Roughhousing with your kids or grandkids 
• Have an active meeting (e.g. toss a frisbee while you talk) 
• Yoga 
• Play a Musical Instrument 
• Play a childhood game with friends (e.g. kick the can) 
• Park at the far end of the parking lot 
• Take the stairs 
• Listen to audiobooks or podcasts or watch movies while exercising 
• Build stuff 
• Walk while on the phone 
• Move differently (avoid cracks on sidewalk, walk on curb, skip, gallop) 
• Fidget more (get up and down more, air drumming, tap toes to a beat) 

Depending on your physical ability, other fun alternatives to traditional exercise include: 

• Golf and carry your clubs, or visit the driving range 
• Basketball – shoot some baskets 
• Bowling 
• Coach kid's sports team rather than just watch 
• Join a sports league 
• Exercise in bed 
• Snowshoeing 
• Hula Hoop 
• Jump Rope 
• Hopscotch 
• Visit a playground 
• Set up an obstacle course 
• Boxing 
• Kickboxing 
• Martial Arts 
• Horseback Riding 
• Batting Cages 
• Kayaking in calm waters 
• Ride a bike 
• Trampolining 
• Birding 
• Swimming 
• Walk your dog 
• Sex 

Or, if you are into VR technology, you might be interested in something like this Supernatural Workout. 

 

Be Careful 

Of course, some of these options won't be a good fit.  But if something sounds intriguing  and you think you are physically up to it, give it a try.  What have you got to lose? 

 

Just don't forget to be careful and consult a doctor before doing anything drastic.  I don't want anyone to get hurt out there.  The idea is to have fun while exercising.  Not try to recapture your youth while trapped in your more mature body. 

 

Tips to Avoid Boredom 

Whatever you do, mix it up so you don't get bored.  Work out with a friend or group of friends to make the time go faster.  Distract yourself with audios/videos and apps.  Reward yourself. Play like a kid (but remember you’re not a kid).  Whatever works. 

 

Fun Makes a Difference 

According to Tom Holland, an exercise physiologist, "when it's fun, you're going to work out harder and longer and you're going to enjoy it more". (To Get a Better Workout, Play Like a Kid) 

 

Personal Experience 

I have to agree with Tom.  To me the best exercises are the ones I don't think of as exercise.  They're just a fun activity I enjoy doing.  Those are the ones I tend to stick with over time.   

 

My favorite "fun" exercises are walking and swimming.  I even enjoy using my rowing machine because it means I can watch an action movie while I do it. (Gets the heart pumping in more ways than one.)  I get so engrossed in what I’m watching that I forget I’m rowing.  Same with using my desk cycle while I watch TV. 

 

I've recently started dancing to YouTube videos.  I'm a terrible dancer (think Elaine Benes in Seinfeld).  I can't follow steps at all.  But playing a dance music mix (70’s disco or 80's pop works), and just making it up as I go is fun.  Sure, I felt ridiculous the first few times.  Even if nobody can see me.  But gradually I just stopped thinking about it. 

 

How about you?  Are there any activities you do for fun, and exercise is just a side benefit? 

 

For some tips on how to make walking more fun, check out my article Do We Really Need to Walk 10,000 Steps a Day?.