5 SIMPLE WAYS TO MAKE CARDIO EASIER AT THE GYM

I use to dread doing Cardio at the gym and I know many people do as well. Normally, I would lean on the treadmill’s dashboard and hold the handlebars while being zoned out. Sometimes, I would cut my cardio short because I felt like I wasn’t motivated enough to continue… I would tell myself, why is cardio so hard for me at the gym? I knew there had to be ways to make cardio days easier and less dreading.
So I started experimenting because I was determined to make the 30 minutes of cardio go faster and be less boring!

The 5 steps to make an Enjoyable 30 minutes of Cardio go by fast

1. Use Time remaining setting
   The majority of Cardio Machines nowadays, have different settings and those can make it or break it for me.  Just put it this way, I rather not look at how much I’ve done because if not my brain automatically wants to give up.  Time remaining seems easier for me mentally to take in, either way, sometimes I don’t like it. It’s a constant battle! Do what’s best for you and you will find this helpful!
2. Entertainment is Key
   Having music has always seemed to trigger motivation for me. Many people would agree with me on this because I see many if not all people using earphones/headphones at the gym.
   I also use Netflix on my phone when I’m doing cardio because why not kill two birds with one stone! Right? Might as well pick a series you have been dying to see and watch it while you are intensely working out.
   Lately, I’ve been addicted to a podcast called “Serial” and also, have tried listening to personal growth/development books like “You are a Badass” by Jen Sincero. By the way, I strongly recommend both of these!!! They are so GOOD! I just can’t seem to get enough!
   All these have helped the time go by faster and next thing you know my workout has been completed!
3. Switch every 10 minutes
   Having the thought of running for 30 minutes, already sounds like something I wouldn’t like to do. I tend to get lazy, bored of running, and I just end up deciding saying “this is good enough for me today”.  But it doesn’t have to be that way. RIGHT?

   What if we can still do our 30 minutes of cardio but make it less mentally draining.
   

   Would this be a better way to approach this?
   What I do now is, I break my cardio routine up into 10-minute increments. I don’t take a break, instead, I switch up machines to change the scenery up a little. I’ll do 10 minutes on the bike, 10 minutes on the elliptical, and finally 10 minutes on the treadmill. The stair climber can also be considered cardio but is a low-impact workout.
   This has helped me a lot in breaking that mental barrier and I bet it will work for you as well! It’s so much easier to push yourself to do 10 minutes of cardio rather than 30 minutes.
   I have also found that by doing high-intensity intervals for 10 minutes, it tends to keep me more engaged versus going at a steady pace.
   *TIP: High-intensity interval training is the best way to burn fat. 

4. Try the Gym Classes
   A lot of the classes that your gym offers are cardio based which will help replace the treadmill and etc. It just depends on what type of class and instructor you have. Usually, Zumba, Spin, Kickboxing, and HIIT are high-intensity cardio classes.
   Make sure to still manage and get some lifting 45 minutes prior to your class.
   If you haven’t noticed yet, these tips are all about distracting your mind into thinking you are not actually doing cardio.  Tricking the mind is a great idea, so you don’t constantly want to try and stop your cardio routine. Hey, whatever works to get the job done! Right?
5. Use the Visuals 
   At the gym, most machines have a picture of a track in order to know where you are. Not going to lie but I love these because I like to run on one side of the track and jog on the other. Switching up the routine is the best way to go and honestly, time goes by faster then you think with this method.What is your favorite cardio class? or Routine?