Work Some Fun Into Your Workout! (Part I)

by Brent Hearn •

Exercise! Make time to work out! Get in your cardio. Gotta do your strength training! And ya have to get in that mobility training! SURELY you’re stretching, right?

If just reading that felt exhausting, you might be one of the many people who feel like they aren’t doing enough, can’t do enough, or simply have no idea how to do enough to start, resume, or maintain any semblance of a consistent fitness regimen.

Most of us like the idea of exercise. We know it’s good for us and that our bodies are meant to be used for more than punching clocks and microwave buttons. Heck, some of us even enjoy working out.

But between whatever combination of obligations already occupying nearly every waking hour—spouse, kids, grandkids, aging parents, school, job (or, in many cases, jobs)—the thought of shoehorning anything else into an already packed schedule can seem more than a little daunting.

And even if you do decide to prioritize your fitness, it’s easy to run into analysis paralysis. With so many voices clamoring for our attention (and our money), it can feel like a chore to sort through the dizzying number of options to work up a sweat at our disposal.

If you’re looking for someone to solve all your workout woes, you’ve (sadly) come to the wrong place. We can’t give you any magic tips to shred belly fat between unexpected overtime and acting as a shuttle service for your kids’ extracurriculars. But what we can do is arm you with a simple truth…

You’re more likely to make the time to exercise—or at least make better use of the limited time you have—if working out is fun.

With that in mind, here are a couple of starter ideas if you’re ready to move from, “I really should work out,” to, “Let’s do this!” (There are too many fun suggestions to fit into one article, so keep an eye out for part two headed your way in a few weeks!)

Dance Your Cares Away

Whether you’re somebody who enjoys getting their boogie on at the occasional wedding reception or you’re a wallflower who envies those who do, dance can be for you! If you want to learn ballroom, salsa, or hip-hop (just to name a few styles), there’s likely a class near you.

If you’re less interested in traditional classes but still crave the social element, you might consider Zumba or something similar. Per Zumba’s website, it’s a “dance-based fitness technique that combines elements of salsa, samba, merengue, reggaeton and hip-hop with cardio exercise moves to create a fast-paced, heart-pumping workout.” It’s done in a low-pressure, welcoming environment, so there’s no need to stress if you have two left feet.

If you’d prefer to beef up your skills at home before you step out onto an actual dance floor, there are countless tutorials on YouTube to get you moving, regardless of the style that interests you. Whatever your skill level, fitness level, or goals, dance is for you!

Pickleball

If you’ve been in or near a park, neighborhood, or tennis center in the last few years, you may have noticed that things are a bit…louder. Some of the noise comes from the incessant “thwock” ringing off pickleball paddles as they make contact with the ball, and the rest is coming from pickleball players seemingly having the time of their lives.

If you’re still not entirely sure what pickleball is, imagine tennis played on a smaller court using paddles and something that resembles a wiffle ball. (That’s an inaccurate enough description to annoy pickleballers and tennis players, but it gives you the general idea.)

The sport is slower-moving than tennis, emphasizing volleys, shot selection, and lateral movement. It also tends to be very social; you have to work not to have fun playing. Don’t let any of that fool you, though; you can still get in a great cardio session while playing pickleball. If you enjoy racket sports or even think you might, set aside any reservations you have about the silly name and give it a try!