Even if you exercise regularly, you might feel like there’s something you can do to have the best workout possible. Here are eight easy things Health editors have incorporated into their exercise routine to get the most out of their workout.
I stopped listening to music and started listening to podcasts instead. A good podcast can really draw me in and make me genuinely look forward to exercising and not want to stop.
-Jani Hall
I never used to drink water during my long or hard runs, in part because it felt like too much effort. I just wanted to get out the door and go. This worked out fine through my 20s. But things changed in my 30s.
I finally bought a hand-held water bottle for outdoor long runs and a squeeze water bottle to allow myself to easily hydrate on the treadmill. Turns out I feel better longer when I hydrate every few miles.
-Anisa Arsenault
Doing a full, proper warm-up: Is it the most fun 20 minutes or so? Not always, but the trade-off is worth it. When I’m pushing my body to do hard things, warming up well makes all the difference in what I’m capable of. Seeing results makes me excited to get after it again, too, so it’s as much of a mental necessity as a physical one.
-Amanda Doyle
I use Strava to track and share my workouts with friends. You can add photos, write captions, and leave comments and “kudos” on posts. It’s been keeping me motivated and more consistent with my workouts since it adds a social element (even when I have to exercise by myself).
-Julia Landwehr
I make sure to take a day off every Wednesday to help with recovery. I used to go to the gym every day, and I definitely felt more fatigued all around. Having Wednesdays off has helped take the pressure off, and my body feels better.
-Jas Thompson
As an ectomorph, it’s really hard for me to build muscle. I started working with a personal trainer, who challenged me to lift heavier weights. This might mean doing 6 or 8 reps instead of 10 or choosing a weight that I can only lift a few times. I’ve seen definite strength gains and hit many new personal bests!
-Jamie Wolff
I used to almost exclusively do high-impact workouts—weightlifting, running, HIIT classes, you name it. I started mixing low-impact workouts into my routine, like yoga and Pilates. It’s been a game-changer for me!
I used to think that if I wasn’t sweating buckets, then I wasn’t working out, but I’ve proven that wrong time and time again. My flexibility has improved, I’ve gotten leaner, I have fewer aches and pains, and I’m less likely to hurt myself during my workouts.
-Dana Ingemann
Letting myself show up at not 100%. Consistency has become my biggest goal with fitness—even if I can only give 50% or 60% to the workout, it’s still worth going and getting my body moving, and I’m still going to feel better afterward. It makes my workouts more enjoyable, and I see progress over time because I’m showing up regularly.
-Hannah Harper
Lifting heavy and going to failure on each set. I made this change after seeing research that heavy, shorter sets build muscle more efficiently. It made my workouts harder but shorter, and I think it’s made me stronger! I’ve been able to move up in weight faster.
-Jenna Anderson
What works for one person might not work for another. Listen to your body and gauge your performance to see what part of your workout you might want to try changing. You might want to make a small tweak to your pre-workout, the workout itself, your post-workout, or the recovery time. If you have questions about the changes, see if your doctor has any advice.
