If you program an interval of, say, 8 mph on a treadmill, then you have to run at exactly 8 miles per hour or else you will fly off the treadmill, so there is no choice but to maintain a steady pace. As for the track, there is something to be said for it in that if you decide beforehand that you are going to run for 5 laps or 8 laps then you are motivated to count the laps and complete them instead of stopping a couple of hundred meters early.
The scenic route is more fun, but if you really get in the “zone” your surroundings should not matter that much.
I’ll second the idea of finding a podcast or something like that that you’d really enjoy listening to, and make the rule for yourself that you only get to listen to it while you’re running. If you stick to it, I think you’ll start to look forward to your runs because of the podcast.
Track your performance, set goals, and then reach them. Runkeeper is free and works well.
The great thing about running outside is it is very easy to enforce new goals on yourself. You just run further before turning around at your 1/2 way point.
But aside from that it’s all about avoiding boredom:
Listen to music, podcasts, etc. in one ear
Frequently change your running routes
If possible, run in an area where you can see other runners
Try “Zombies, Run!”
This is the key. You have to find something you enjoy. All the suggestions here are great things to try out to see if they work for you. If they don’t, try something else. I found I love running on trails, which actually makes me enjoy road runs more because I know it’s keeping me in shape and tiding me over until I get out on the trail. Maybe more nature runs are best, maybe podcasts or music, maybe a running group, maybe entirely different sports.
Once you find something you can find enjoyment or motivation in, make it a habit. One of the best things I did for my routine was never decided if I am going to do a workout based on how I feel. If my schedule says I go for a run in the morning, then (barring injury or sickness) I go for a run no matter what the weather or if I’m feeling lazy. Otherwise, every run was a decision and that decision process sucked every time.
Back when I used to run, I would give myself little challenges and mix up the pace to avoid boredom. Plus I would run along the lakefront where there were plenty of other joggers, and I’d play little racing games in my head with them, like seeing how many joggers I could pass before I hit my next mile marker or whatnot. Of course, that presupposes the ability to overtake runners, which I had back then. Or I would break down the run into smaller runs to a series of landmarks. Could be a telephone pole, could be a bend in the road, and continue on my pace to that landmark, which would somehow make maintaining that pace to the next landmark easier for me than if I didn’t break it down.
If on a more barren course, I would just race against myself, or do intervals or fartleks. When I did steady state runs (which was a lot of the time, too), I would have a mix of music that was about about at my running cadence and time my steps to them. Or sometimes I would just veg out with a podcast and not worry about the pace at all and take it easy.
But the surroundings would make a big difference mentally. Running with others around was a lot easier than running completely solitary.
Good advice. I believe we had a poster here who said his late wife (a trainer)'s advice was that the best exercise (whatever it is) is the one you’ll actually do.
It is. But given that exercise takes time and is hard, though you know it is beneficial in terms of health, longevity, mood and physique, it might be reasonable to agree with yourself to stick with jogging (or whatever else) for a few weeks and re-evaluate it even if many things about it suck. Of course, if there are exercises you prefer consider doing those. But improving can be motivating by itself.