It’s that season again—it’s cold and dreary outside. We move from being constantly active outdoors (hiking, running, biking) to getting our workouts mostly at home or at the gym. Now that we’re hitting the gym more often, making that time efficient is key. It’s easy to waste time there; instead of a quick 45 minutes, we can end up staying for 90. Here are five common workout time wasters and how to avoid them to make your gym time more productive.
One major time killer is bad music interrupting your workout flow. Imagine you’re in the zone, and a terrible song comes on, forcing you to stop and change it. This can take a few minutes each time, which adds up. To avoid this, create a playlist of only your favorite pump-up songs before you hit the gym. This way, you won’t have to waste time messing with your music.
Texting at the gym is another common distraction. It’s tough to ignore texts, especially if your phone doubles as your music player. However, this kills your productivity. If possible, use an iPod or another music device for your tunes and leave your smartphone in your gym bag. Alternatively, put your phone on airplane mode to eliminate distractions.
Not alternating exercises can make your workout less efficient. Try supersets—doing a set and then immediately doing a set of an opposing muscle group with minimal rest in between. This keeps your heart rate up, maximizes productivity, boosts muscle growth, and even provides some cardio benefits.
Steady-state cardio has its benefits but can be time-consuming and monotonous. Instead, try high-intensity interval training (HIIT). By doing bursts of high-intensity cardio followed by short rest periods, you can improve your cardio fitness and save time. For example, instead of spending 45 minutes on steady-state cardio, do a 15-20 minute HIIT session.
Socializing at the gym can also eat up a lot of time. Chatting with your buddies between sets, even for five minutes, can extend your workout and reduce its effectiveness. Keep social interactions to a minimum during your workout, or save conversations for before or after. Alternatively, consider hiring a personal trainer to keep you focused and ensure you finish on time.
By using your gym time efficiently, you’ll have better workouts, not dread going, and have more time for family and friends. Remember to use your gym time wisely, avoid these time killers, and you’ll see the results. Time is valuable, don’t waste it on these workout time wasters!