I've always loved working out by myself, since working out is like a form of therapy for me; I just put on my headphones, get into my zone, focus on my workout, forget about the outside world, and release all of my stress. When I workout by myself, there is no one to distract me and I'm able to go into my gym, my room, my pool, or my yoga class, get my workout done, and go on with the rest of my day. Working out on your own also makes you stronger in so many ways; since there is no one there to push you to start working out, to push you to your limits, and to make you finish your workout, it helps you become your own motivation and your own personal trainer. There are MANY benefits to working out on your own, but with that being said, there are also MANY benefits to working out with a friend, significant other, or family member.
We are all human beings, and at the end of the day it will always be difficult to push yourself to wake up early to go on a hike, swim 50 laps in the pool, attend a yoga class, jog 5 miles, or lift some weights at the gym. No matter how strong you are, or how much you love working out, it will always be a daily struggle to wake up early, get out of bed, and START your workout. You will always have those days when you'd rather sit at home, watch t.v., and eat a whole pint of ice cream by yourself instead of going outside for a jog. You will always have those days at the gym where you don't push yourself too hard, or spend most of the time scrolling through your cell phone then actually working out. When those days come around, and trust me, they will, it's so important to have someone you can call to come workout with you and help you reach your goals.
Since I love being active, and can't stand sitting down all day even on my rest days, I always try to schedule in some kind of workout when hanging out with my friends, family, or boyfriend. I love going hiking and swimming with my friends, taking early morning walks with my mom before breakfast, and lifting weights at the gym with my boyfriend. The best way to make sure you're not missing too many workout days while still making time for your friends, family members, and significant other, especially if you have such a busy schedule (like me:) ) is to workout WHILE hanging out with them!
I hardly ever skip my workouts because "I'm too tired" "too lazy" or "don't feel like it", but I do have a hard time pushing myself to try new things, switching out my routines, waking up extra early to attend a yoga or cycling class or to take a long walk/jog around my neighborhood, and pushing myself to do an extra rep or lift a heavier dumbbell at times; this is where my workout buddies come in!
My mom loves taking early morning power walks with me, which is a great way to start the day, absorb some sunshine, and get in some cardio before breakfast. If it wasn't for her, I would probably never wake up early to take a walk by myself!
My friends love going swimming, going on long walks, and going hiking with me, which is what we usually do when we're together. Whether it's a short walk around the neighborhood, or an hour long hike, any workout is better than none! It's so important to stay active while hanging out with friends, and it's SO easy too; you won't even realize your working out most of the time!
My boyfriend loves going to the gym and lifting weights with me, and we also love hiking together. He is definitely my main motivation when it comes to working out, since we always push each other to workout harder and go past our limits. We learn new things from each other every day, which is why I never get bored when working out with him!
Those are just some examples of why having a workout buddy at times is necessary,fun, and extremely helpful for me, but the list is endless! Here are some of the many benefits to working out with a partner:
1. When you make plans with yourself to workout, you can always cancel, but when you plan to go workout with someone else, it's a LOT harder to cancel, and you most likely won't!
2. It's so easy to miss out on workouts when having a hectic schedule, but when scheduling time to workout with a friend, family member, or significant other while spending time with them, it becomes a lot easier to find time to workout!
3. Sometimes, even the fact that you don't want to drive to the gym can become an excuse to skip a workout. If you carpool with a friend, you're much less likely to skip!
4. Working out with someone else can distract you from the fact that you're actually working out! What's better than talking about the latest gossip with your best friend while getting a workout in at the same time?
5. It's always fun to compete with a workout buddy; who can run faster? who can swim more laps in the pool? who can do more reps? Competing with someone allows you to push yourself harder than you would on your own.
6. I'm not going to lie, there are so many workouts I would probably never do on my own, such as hiking or early morning walks. It's so important to have a workout partner for those workouts you can't see yourself doing on your own!
7. Waking up early to workout will always be a struggle; that struggle becomes MUCH less of a struggle when you have someone to wake up early and workout with you!
8.You can always learn new workouts from someone else that can be incorporated into your own routine
9. If your workout buddy is generally stronger and more active than you are, they can push you to workout harder and even train you- like your own free personal trainer!
10. Working out with a partner is just more fun!
Why do you like working out with a buddy? What kind of workouts do you like to do with friends, family members, and your significant other? Let me know in the comments below!
xxx
Rachel
