It seems that most of the time when people talk about doing a cardio workout, they refer to it more as a necessary evil than as something that they really enjoy. With how monotonous cardio workouts can be, this really isn’t too surprising. Think about it: unless you are outdoors doing what might be considered “natural cardio” (running, biking, etc. without a machine) you are mainly just conforming to the movement of a machine to get your heart rate up. The scenery doesn’t even change except for the people that are walking in front of your machine. Sometimes that might be good scenery and sometimes it might not be…

So how do we make our cardio workouts more enjoyable? The first thing is that you have to decide that it can be enjoyable. Let’s face it, people dread doing things they don’t enjoy. A great example of this is the dentist. Because most of the time it is not an enjoyable experience to go to the dentist, most people dread it. It becomes another one of those necessary evils that we have to do to maintain good health. Now, I don’t think that its fair to compare cardio with going to the dentist, but it seems that to some people it is that un-enjoyable. So once you’ve decided that it can be enjoyable, here are a few things you can do:

1- Read a magazine or book while doing cardio.

Granted, this is easiest to do if you are on a stationary or recumbent bike. It’s probably best to read books and magazines about fitness and health, keeping your mind focused on what you’re really trying to do. While other books and magazines are great to read, they may not be the best to keep yourself mentally in the game when doing your cardio workout.

2- Watch a favorite action movie

Chick flicks, slow dramas, and other slow paced movies are probably not the best to watch during your workout. You want to keep a fast pace for your workout, so don’t slow it down by what you’re watching visually. Watch the type of movie that motivates you to want to get in shape.

3- Listen to upbeat music

Music can have a very powerful effect on you. Have you noticed that when you listen to upbeat music, you feel more upbeat; when you listen to angry music, you feel a little more on edge; basically music can greatly affect your mood. So if you’re planning on listening to music while your workout, make sure it is upbeat and positive.

4- Play some type of racing video game

Again, this really only works when you’re on a stationary or recumbent bike, but why not do all you can to make your body think that you really are in some type of a race? Great way to get your heart beat up. This could be done with either a hand-held gaming device or on a full console if you’re working out at home.

One thing to be careful of with any of these methods it to make sure that they help you and don’t distract you. Personally, I’ve found that my pace almost always slows down when I’m just “watching TV” while doing my cardio workout. But if its a movie that motivates me, then I tend to keep my pace up to par. Experiment with different ideas and find out what works best for you.