If your exercise routine is starting to feel like a drag, maybe it’s a sign that it’s time to change things up and try some new workouts that’ll bring you more joy!
Reaching your fitness goals should be fun, not a chore — and you’ll be more successful if your exercise makes you feel mentally healthy, too.
Long summer days are also the perfect time to try something new while moving your body, which presents a ton of fun options for varying your physical activity.
Here are some ideas for spicing up your workout routine and getting a happy burst of endorphins in the process.
7 Fun Mood-Boosting Workouts
1. Goat yoga
For a workout that’s just as good for your body as it is for your mind, yoga is an excellent choice! Studies have shown that practicing yoga has many health benefits, ranging from improving your strength and flexibility to reducing stress, anxiety, and chronic pain.
But if you want to have even more fun as you’re going through your flows, try adding goats into the mix!
Goat yoga classes have been taking off in popularity in recent years, and it’s no wonder: by combining challenging yet meditative yoga flows with the cuteness (and utter unpredictability) of goat friends, you end up with a completely unique workout that’s both hilarious and sweat-inducing.
As an added bonus, being around animals is also thought to be pretty good for your mental health and, subsequently, your physical health.
Research has drawn several connections between being around animals and improvements in stress levels and mood, as well as your heart rate and blood pressure.
2. Stand-up paddleboarding
When the sun is shining and your local lake or bay is calling your name, taking your workout out on the water is a great way to combine good times and exercise.
But first, have you heard of stand-up paddleboarding? It involves balancing on a large paddleboard and steering with an oar, making it a full-body workout that packs a major punch but is majorly fun as well.
Not only that, but paddleboarding has also been found to help improve total body composition and posture when done consistently.
By standing on a board in a moving body of water, you’re challenging your entire body (especially your core) as you try to stay balanced and navigate through the water.
3. Pairing up with a friend
Looking for an easy way to bring more variety to your workouts? Just add a friend!
Linking up with a friend or two can help provide more motivation for reaching your goals than chasing them on your own — and science backs that up.
For example, one study that examined the effects of peer support in children ages 12 to 14 found that participants biked a longer distance when they were with a friend versus when they were alone.
Another study found that adult women were able to significantly increase the amount of time they biked during a workout when they were paired with a partner. This was especially highlighted by activity where they were paired with a fitter partner in a cooperative exercise in which performance was determined by who stopped biking first.
Working out with a buddy is also great for keeping you accountable, which is good news if you’re looking to accomplish a specific goal. In fact, one study found that 95% of its participants who recruited friends to join their weight-loss program were able to complete their treatment, and 66% were able to maintain their weight loss after ten months.
By comparison, only 76% of the participants who did their weight loss treatment alone were able to finish the program, and only 24% of them maintained their weight loss in the long run.
4. Taking a scenic hike
No matter what level of fitness you’re at, taking a hike is a relaxing, rejuvenating, and satisfying physical activity.
There’s nothing quite as refreshing as taking your workout into the great outdoors and being rewarded by great views and the feeling of accomplishment that comes from walking a couple of challenging miles on your own two feet.
In fact, evidence suggests that taking your workout outdoors is a proven way to boost your mood.
Additionally, hiking is also a great way to improve your body composition. To increase the difficulty of your hike and thus boost how well it works your muscles, consider looking for trails with steeper inclines. You could also try adding some weight via a backpack filled with your necessities, such as water, trail snacks, and a first aid kit.
5. Dancing it out
At the end of a long day, sometimes a formal workout doesn’t sound appealing, and you’d rather let loose, turn on your favorite songs, and free your mind instead. Enter: dancing as a form of exercise!
Joining a dance class (or just busting a move on your own) is a fantastic way to get your body moving while simultaneously lifting your spirits.
A highly effective workout, dancing is great for several aspects of your fitness, including your body composition and blood biomarkers.
6. Circuit training at the park
Circuit training is an ultra-challenging workout that helps you get the most out of a short workout sesh, because it ensures that your big muscle groups are firing on all cylinders.
But if you’re tired of the same old circuit training routine, break up the monotony by taking it to your local park instead of performing it in your gym or home!
By getting outside and into the sunshine, you’ll be changing up the scenery and likely lighting up your mood in the process.
Plus, you can use your new environment to your advantage to get an even better workout. For example, you could utilize playground equipment, park structures, and jogging paths in your training.
7. Beach volleyball
There are few things that scream “fun in the sun” quite like hanging out at the beach with your friends.
If you want to add a little more physical activity (and a good dose of friendly competition) to your next beach hang, bring along a volleyball and a couple of friends!
A thrilling game of volleyball in the sand is challenging for your entire body, but it’s also so enjoyable that you might not even realize that you’re working as hard as you are.
Even better, taking your game out to the beach can be an excellent method of improving your performance if you’re already an avid volleyball player.
Conclusion
While we’re used to thinking of workouts as having structured, traditional forms, such as lifting weights at the gym or running on a track, there are so many different opportunities besides that for getting your body moving and improving your body composition.
Summer, in particular, offers great opportunities for adding variety to your workout routine while having plenty of fun in the process.
So, if you’re feeling like you just can’t face another day on the treadmill or in the weight room, try one of these fun workouts instead!
