How to make exercise more fun?

[zeke365]

I did not see this question asked before so I decided to ask here since something I struggle with.

How do you make exercise more fun? Like make exercise feel less mundane and something enjoyable? 
 

Before you ask 

1.I have go to gym before, listen music, did the cycles, swimming (which I enjoyed), and tried some gym classes there were not for me. Most of these I felt were boring. 

And I not talking about an downloading an app and relying on that either something non electronic.

1.For example how would you make sit-ups more fun? Or Lunges? Or walking? 
 

I did event one game that has me walking in stores 

1.Rule 1: park at the furthest space in a shopping complex (stay safe).

2.Rule 2: You can’t go into any of your favorite stores

3.Rule 3: Walk the whole complete and finding interesting stores you want to go to.

4.Rule 5 go into those interesting stores.

I seem to like geocaching, dancing. 
Seems when I driving now I did an I spy game to keep focused to. 

I tried hiking a couple of times but too in shape to do it. 
 

So what some ways you have made excerise for more fun and feel less mundane because be nice to see some suggestions. Thanks. 

[wheatbiscuit]

A lot of the time exercise isn't for entertainment alone when I do it. There might be a lot of motivational or 'hard' pointers from highly accomplished people, yet it's still my preference to leave an exercise session with just enough energy to get home before slowing down. It requires honesty with how I'm feeling about the stuff.

Today was a 'soft/rest day' for me, and I used music and merely walked around a park for 1 hour, focusing on the greenness and trying to 'vibe' with the dog owners and footy players. But tomorrow is probably going to be heavy squats - heaviness is relative but it means I'll keep adding weight until it's not safe to go down and up more than 5 times (a '5 rep maximum'/'5RM'). At the same time, I've changed my technique for now by coming down slow, pausing when my legs make a 90 degree angle, and standing back up relatively quickly.

Try to feel the motion through your body, speed up, and slow down again (EDIT: and don't forget to breathe!). One mistake I used to make when I was busier was quantity over quality - if I only had 45 minutes, I'd now probably only repeat one movement rather than do 2 sets of everything with poor technique or no warming up/practice attempts. But then, my goal for awhile has been improved mood and less stress. Also, if you get planning/daydreaming time, I recommend coming up with a kind of 'bodybuilder' schedule; with a bunch of your favourite exercises for all of your muscles, covered in 2-3 weeks, then repeating it.

-> If I had to suggest something, it would be team sport/friendly competition. I tried my first beginner, social jiu jitsu class this year, and I knew we'd be getting a bit closer and physical, and it really had an adrenaline effect. If nothing else, let your imagination run a little wilder. Low enjoyment may also mean that most of your day is too fun in comparison, and exercise isn't the 'high point' of your day, like my dad says it probably is for a lot of people in the gym who are 'just getting on with it'.

I might have a lot less faith than 10-15 years ago, but still, godspeed.

Edited July 19 by wheatbiscuit
grammar

[Salem]

This is what I'm currently struggling with. Not in a great place financially to be able to do muay thai classes or anything similar. I've been playing with the idea of doing trail running. With weights and keeping a time of how fast I can do the trail with weights.

 

Would love to know if you've had any ideas since posting

[zeke365]

So I don’t have any new ideas as of  yet. 
  What I have noticed is in exercise there no visual representation showing progress (well yes mirror) but meaning we don’t know when we exercise that gaining any experience or losing experience.
   Very similar to experience points in video games where you see yourself progressing but how do we apply this to real life? For example it like we quit level 1 and been thrown into level 100 and we don’t know we’re gaining or losing those experience points.

   I have nerd fitness which adds a little game element to it, but I enjoyed more is it showing me progress of how I progressing as I did the exercise, that what I’m more talking about how do we best visualize that experience points in real life? Like maybe point system, high score, or something.

  Just like when your kid you make up games to play, well that what I’m searching for how do I add a creative element to say pushups or lunges or even walking?? This what I’m struggling with right now.

[marquislemal]

I would say if you want to make exercise more fun for yourself, you need friends that will motivate you. Go to the gym and hang out with guys who love to exercise. Don’t be afraid to join other people’s friend group. Try to find sport teams locally or online. If you have a friend who works out with you, then it will motivate you to go to the gym because you look forward to seeing him/her every day.

[D_Cozy]

I have ADHD and find exercise kinda boring without one of the following:

• A workout buddy. This is usually my wife, but in the past it's been a friend of mine. +1 to that suggestion
• music or podcasts to listen to
• if on the treadmill, I'll indulge with watching a TV show, movie, or youtube video. The idea is that you watch one of those while you are working out only. That way it acts as a reward during the workout. That said, if you find yourself to also be easily addicted to streaming / video platforms, you may not want to do this one.

As for gamifying workouts, or similar, I would recommend you look for new exercises to try that work-out the muscle groups you are focused on, or even go farther than that.

Myself, I am currently learning how to do Handstand Pushups; basically you do a handstand and you push yourself down and back up. It engages upper body strength and your core for balance. I'm at the negative wall-assisted stage, which is the one right before doing them without a wall to help balance from. It's a lot of rewarding work. Anyways, that's what has been keeping the progression fun for me.