# How do you not get bored exercising?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [April 25, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692 "2013-04-25T19:46:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692/1 "2013-04-25T19:46:11Z")
My favorite cardio exercise in the gym is the rowing machine. However, even just 10 or 15 minutes feels like _such_ a long time. How do I make that time feel faster, and potentially because of that be able to get in more time?
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### Author:  [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692/2 "2013-04-25T19:49:18Z")
Because you’re sitting in one place, indoors, and sitting in one place, indoors, sucks??
Find a trail through the woods. Run on it. Problem solved.
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### Author:  [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692/3 "2013-04-25T19:58:46Z")
I only use the gym with the weather is too crappy to be outside. About an hour on a cardio machine is all I can take. Music helps.
I prefer riding my bicycle outside or even walking or jogging. If I ever move to a place with a lake nearby, I’d consider getting a small boat, canoe, or kayak to get some upper body work.
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### Author:  [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692/4 "2013-04-25T20:01:01Z")
Machines can be pretty boring. Don’t do your whole workout on one machine. Use a machine for 10 minutes and then move to another one. Use a machine for 100 calories then move to another one. Induce variety to combat boredom.
Don’t just select a level and keep it there. Select one of the programs which automatically varies the intensity.
Work out at a much higher intensity. You won’t get bored if you’re feeling like you’re going to die.
Take some group classes. I can’t force myself to do 20 minutes on a machine, but an hour goes by like nothing in a group class.
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### Author:  [@Sparky\_the\_Wonder\_Spirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky_the_Wonder_Spirit)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692/5 "2013-04-25T20:06:30Z")
You could always listen to music or audiobooks.
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### Author:  [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692/6 "2013-04-25T20:09:56Z")
> [@filmore](#):
>
> Machines can be pretty boring. Don’t do your whole workout on one machine. Use a machine for 10 minutes and then move to another one. Use a machine for 100 calories then move to another one. Induce variety to combat boredom.
That’s what I do when using cardio machines. E.g. 15 minutes on one type of elliptical, 15 on another, 15 on a treadmill. It’s still pretty damned boring, but not as bad.
My gym has monitors built into each treadmill so you can watch (one of a handful of crap channels of) TV if you want.
Ear buds also help. Podcasts more so than music.
Or you could just get really high beforehand.
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### Author:  [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692/7 "2013-04-25T20:15:56Z")
I prefer the recumbent stationary bikes at my gym to the upright varieties because I can easily read a book while I pedal. Several of the treadmills there have personal TV screens, as well - watching ESPN (with sound through my earbuds) really helps the time pass.
The rowing machines, though, have nothing but the communal TV that’s more-or-less visible.
Ultimately, I prefer to run outside - even in pre-dawn darkness. However, if it’s unpleasant weather or my plan\* that day calls for something besides running then I hit the gym and employ 15-minute rotations between machine types to break up the monotony and/or a novel on the recumbent bike.
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- a grandiose term for making sure my weekly running mileage stays about where I want it
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### Author:  [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2013, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692/8 "2013-04-25T20:16:26Z")
When I do cardio I prefer [high-intensity interval](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_interval_training) stuff. I don’t think I could go more than 20 minutes if I wanted to. Get your heart rate up to 170+ and you won’t be thinking about being bored.
Also, listen to music.
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### Author:  [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2013, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692/9 "2013-04-25T20:17:31Z")
get an MP3 player and put something like the coxswain of some rowing team on it.
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### Author:  [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692/10 "2013-04-25T20:19:10Z")
I make little games of it. If something is being counted, like miles run or time left, I set small goals. “My next goal is to reach 2.25 miles” or something like that.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692/11 "2013-04-25T20:19:13Z")
I get bored. SO BORED.
I love audiobooks, but I’ve found that music works best for me. A mix of good high energy music means that the beat and tempo are changing up every few minutes, and that helps break up the time.
Audiobooks are more interesting, but they don’t keep me jazzed up and moving like music does.
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### Author:  [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692/12 "2013-04-25T20:19:57Z")
> [@brad\_d](#):
>
> I prefer the recumbent stationary bikes at my gym to the upright varieties because I can easily read a book while I pedal.
That’s what I do.
Or when the weather’s nice get on a real bike and look at stuff as it goes by.
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### Author:  [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2013, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692/13 "2013-04-25T20:29:07Z")
My kindle works great on the elliptical. I make the font a little larger to compensate for my head moving while I’m reading. It works great.
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### Author:  [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2013, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692/14 "2013-04-25T20:37:40Z")
> [@bup](#):
>
> Or when the weather’s nice get on a real bike and look at stuff as it goes by.
Harder to read on a real bike, though.
I can’t not be bored exercising. I can do yardwork all day long and be perfectly happy battling a rototiller, raking leavs, managing the lawn, etc. But I simply cannot play hamster for 30-45 minutes at a time, even if the TV is on.
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### Author:  [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692/15 "2013-04-25T20:46:41Z")
Use an indicator of exertion rather than time. Time is boring and passive and ticks by whether you’re doing anything or not. It means nothing to say you worked out for 20 minutes. You could just be sitting there for 20 minutes or you could be going at maximum intensity. Time means nothing.
Instead, set yourself a goal which is based on total exertion, like 200 calories. Then it’s up to you and your effort to reach the goal. If you want it done quicker, work out harder.
To make it even more interesting, set yourself a goal of X calories in under Y minutes. Then you will be watching your progress to see if you will meet it. Always make the goal challenging. For example, if you can easily do 100 calories in 10 minutes, make your goal 120 in 10 or 100 in 9. You want a goal that’s just out of reach to encourage you to push harder.
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### Author:  [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692/16 "2013-04-25T20:46:51Z")
> [@Enright3](#):
>
> My kindle works great on the elliptical. I make the font a little larger to compensate for my head moving while I’m reading. It works great.
This; getting a Kindle a few years back was life-changing, and I’m not overselling it when I say that. I used to feel great on my lifting days, and have a really hard time getting through the slog on my cardio days. Now I just get on an elliptical, get my Kindle open, and 40-60 minutes later I’m covered in sweat and wondering where all the time went. The extra several hours of reading that I get in per week is also really freakin’ sweet.
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### Author:  [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2013, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692/17 "2013-04-25T21:08:31Z")
Podcasts and walking outdoors so that there’s something interesting to look at. Otherwise I couldn’t stand it.
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### Author:  [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692/18 "2013-04-25T21:17:17Z")
I find that TV works best. I love audiobooks and podcasts, but the added visual distraction from a TV helps pass the time more, maybe because it keeps me from glancing at the little timer.
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### Author:  [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692/19 "2013-04-25T21:32:37Z")
Go run after a ball, squash never gets boring.
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### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2013, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-not-get-bored-exercising/656692/20 "2013-04-25T21:54:13Z")
The cardio machines I use typically have a TV on them, so I watch that for 30-45 minutes. However, sometimes I just think about things while I exercise. It’s kind of a lost art, it seems.
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