5 Ways To Make Exercise More Fun!

*This post is sponsored by Fabletics; but all opinions are my own*

Do you like to exercise? I'm going to go out on a limb and say most of you probably don't really like it. I'd be one of those people. However, I think there are ways that can help you get up and get moving more, and I thought I'd share some of those today! Feel free to leave any other ways to make exercise more fun in the comments below, and any social media shares would be great! 

1. Fashionable and Functional Exercise Clothes

This is one tip that I need to utilize myself, and I do plan on gathering some fun athletic wear here and there. I think it's obvious that when you feel good about how you look, you feel more confident in general. This should relate to working out too. Get some items that make you feel good - that fit and are cute too! There are places that sell some great athletic wear like Fabletics, as it's full of variety and sizes! Not every person is petite, but everyone needs to get up and moving, so it's important that there are fashionable and functional exercise clothes for all! 

2. Enlist a Buddy

Everything is more fun with a friend, right? When I did go to a gym, I usually only went when a friend of mine could go. We helped motivate each other to actually leave the house and go, especially for her since she was often my ride there. I don't go to the gym anymore because of costs, but I still agree that enlisting a buddy is a good way to make exercise more fun. If you don't go to the gym, take a class together or just get out and take a walk. I went to the park one day with a friend and since she had her mom's dog, we took a walk through the park's trails. It was a bit tiring, but being out there with her made it much more pleasant. Now I want to go to the park and take walks! 

3. Audiobooks/Music/Podcasts

I've tried audiobooks a couple times but they never really held my attention. However, I do want to give them a chance in the future. I think if I'm taking a walk by myself, I would focus a lot better. After all, I can listen to podcasts and those hold my interest. The one podcast I'm currently listening to is My Favorite Murder. It might sound a bit gruesome, but it's not all that bad. Yes, the two hosts do talk about various murders each episode but it's also infused with a lot of humor and lightheartedness so nothing gets too dark. As for just music in general, I listened to artists sometimes when I was at the gym and it can help pass the time. All of these are just ways to allow your mind to focus on something other than having to work out. Granted, they work best if you are on the treadmill or walking outside because you don't have to think too much. 

4. Reward Yourself

If you're anything like me, rewarding yourself usually brings something edible to mind. That's not the type of reward I mean. You don't want to waste a good workout by then going and eating ice cream or a candy bar. Even though it often sounds really good. Instead, find some other ways that you can reward yourself. Maybe it's something you buy - say you exercise so much in a week and you get to buy some new songs for your iPod, or you exercise so many days in a month and you get to buy a new book. If you don't want the rewards to be monetary, maybe use something you already have to reward yourself - like a nice bubble bath, binge watching a favorite or even new-to-you show, having a friend come over to hang out, or even taking a long nap when you usually do something else! 

5. Try Something New! 

I find that one thing that makes exercise a chore is that it can often be boring. You're doing the same thing all the time and if you don't notice results right away, you can start to shut down a bit. A good way to keep exercising fun is to try new things here and there. If you like walking or running, go to the park and use a trail. If you normally do this, find a new trail! If you can afford it, try an exercise class or even some other type of class/group that gets you up and moving. A few years ago I joined a dance class for the first time. I'd never taken them as a child but I always liked the idea of dance, so I signed up. That first class was tap and jazz and it didn't take long for me to fall in love, especially with tap! There's just something about hearing the sound of those tap shoes! If you already belong to a gym, look into group classes there. Or maybe you just need to find a gym - be around other people and find new equipment to work out with. It's cheaper to use gym equipment than to buy your own!