We’ve all been there. The morning where you’re supposed to go to the gym, but hit snooze instead. Maybe that would be acceptable if you worked out hard all week and this was your much deserved day off. But more than likely, it’s just another way out.
No one ever said working out is easy. And without accountability and strong motivation it’s next to impossible for some. Not only can working out with someone else give you accountability and motivation, but it can also be a lot of fun and enrich your life as well as your workout.
Accountability
You would never leave your workout buddy waiting alone for you in the park. Even if you were loathing the idea of exercise at the moment, you would drag yourself there. Just getting there is first step to working out. The guilty pressure of having to answer to someone else may be just what you need. Chances are that once you get yourself together and meet your buddy, you will actually want to workout anyway.
Camaraderie
Hopefully your workout buddy is someone you enjoy spending time with. Hopefully you have similar goals. Meeting up with someone can give you a sense of camaraderie. Someone who understands that working out is tough and that it’s not always priority number one on your list. Hopefully that is something you can talk about while you’re working out.
Socialization
Some people hate to be alone, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Instead of sitting in the coffee shop decompressing about the week’s happenings, spend that time in the gym or jogging at the park. Talk about work, significant others, kids, parents. Afterwards, you body and your mind will feel at ease.
Motivation
Add up accountability, camaraderie, socialization, and that flickering flame inside of you that really wants to workout and you get motivation. Motivation is all you need when working out. Some people have huge fire of motivation inside that keeps them going all by themselves. Some people need a little kindling thrown on the fire. Don’t give up, collect some workout buddies and watch your fire grow.
Still Feeling Alone?
Guess what? There are a lot of people like you. If you don’t have any friends willing to help you out, there are multiple resources to find workout buddies. Search for running clubs in your area. They often have group runs just for this purpose. Interested in triathlons? Look for a multisport store in your area. They may just have a tri club or team that you can be a part of.
Working out with someone else is a great way to keep you motivated. Not only can it enrich your workout program, but also your life.