5 Reasons to Get a Workout Buddy
Accountability: On those days that you feel like skipping your workout and laying on the couch eating ice cream straight from the container, it can help knowing that someone else is counting on you to show up and work out. When you have someone meeting you for a workout you’re much more likely to actually go than to blow it off because you don’t want to let that person down.
Motivation: Having someone there that’s pushing through a workout right along with you can be just the motivation you need to power through the last mile of a tough run or finally up your weights at the gym. People typically tend to sell themselves short when it comes to how much they’re capable of accomplishing when they’re by themselves, and are much more likely to push a little harder when someone is next to them pushing a little harder too.
Perception: How many times have you been plodding through a workout watching the clock the entire time? Now think about those days and how much better they would have been if you had a friend there chatting with you instead. Having a workout partner to talk to can make an otherwise tedious workout fly by. All you need to do is get a good conversation going and before you know it you’ll be done.
Perspective: Sometimes you need a reality check when it comes to working out, and having a trusted workout buddy can give you just that. Maybe you need someone to tell you that you should be pushing yourself more, or maybe you need someone to tell you that you’re getting a little too intense on the workout front. Then again, maybe you just want to complain about a particularly tough workout or celebrate a new fitness success. Having a regular workout partner that understands these types of things can be paramount to your fitness goals.
Inspiration: Even if you work out with the same person on a regular basis, it’s likely that you’ll each have something that you’re better at than the other, which can help inspire you to become better in the area they excel at as well. Maybe you are an excellent swimmer and your workout partner is better at lifting weights – use these individual strengths to help you both become more well-rounded in your fitness journey.
Finding someone to work out with from time to time can be the key to finally pushing past a workout plateau or discovering a new goal that you want to accomplish, plus sometimes it’s just more fun when you have a friend sweating it out next to you. If you’re looking for a change in your workouts, try finding a friend to hit up the gym with first, it might be just the switch up you need.
