Photo: Centurion Cycling Adventures
In the midst of our frenetic lives, there are many ways to isolate ourselves, – constantly keeping our headphones in, getting wrapped up in work or school and taking more time with impressing our online pseudo-friends than actually interacting with our actual friends. We’re a bunch of cynics, all of us. Many of us also go it alone with our exercise routine, squeezing in workouts when we can on our own time. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this, but when we fly solo we’re missing out on some big benefits.
Freakin’ Accountability, Man
We often look to our fitness tracker, smart watch or phone app to tell us when to move, how much and how hard to push. Then there are new “hearables” that provide a coach in our ears via standalone headphones or those integrated with sunglasses. This can be OK for early stage motivation, such as if you’re sedentary and are trying to get back into regular exercise. But studies show that 50 percent of fitness trackers users quit using devices within two months. So what happens then? A more sustainable approach is to ask a friend, family member–or how about your significant other–to run, paddle, cycle or whatever with you.
It’ll Challenge You
Unless you’re highly motivated, it’s easy to give into the temptation of easing off on that last rowing interval when the fatigue sets in or failing to grind out that final rep when your muscles are on fire. If you have a buddy next to you, giving you props (“You got this,” etc.) you’re likely to push beyond your perceived limits. And while your training shouldn’t become a pissing match, trying to see who outdoes the other on any given day can give you an extra boost I (even if it sucks to admit it). But if you haven’t, and you have any kind of coordination, try pickup basketball or even one-on-one in your driveway. Or just some game like tennis or racketball to play on a weekly basis and see how it fires you up.
Actually Meet Goals You Set
There’s a reason that CrossFit’s team competitions are becoming ever more popular, that couples and groups do charity rides and paddles together and that teams of friends sign up in droves for Spartan Races, Tough Mudders and other obstacle course races: it’s easier to meet or exceed your goals if you have someone alongside you to keep you going. People with hard driving, type-A personalities often find it difficult to celebrate successes because they’re already moving onto the next thing on their never-ending to-do list, but there’s value in getting and giving a well-deserved pat on the back – and having a celebratory brew or six – for a job well done.
