6 Ways to Make Your Workouts More Effective

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut while navigating the day-to-day grind. Routines grow old, and so do our workouts after too much repetition. Maybe you’ve hit a plateau or you simply need to hit ‘refresh.’ Here are six tips to revitalize your healthy habits with ease.

1. Create a new workout playlist.

You’ve probably experienced that moment when you’re “in the zone,” and it’s completely interrupted by the start of the wrong song. You have to stop what you’re doing to pull out your phone and press skip; this could happen several times and it completely ruins your momentum!  Workout music motivates, entertains, and sets the tone to hunker down and push ourselves physically. It takes just a few minutes to create the perfect playlist. It’s worth taking the time to do so—then you can stay focused on your workout without interruption.

Chances are a workout isn’t the only thing on your agenda each day, and you could use a boost of energy before working up a sweat.  A small snack that includes fruit, peanut butter, yogurt, or a combination of those can be the extra kick of energy for you to work your hardest. Medjool dates’ combination of natural sugars and good-for-you dietary fiber make them the perfect pre-workout and post-workout snack! Need some snack ideas? Here are some of our favorites.

3. Cut the socializing.

While we may cherish our gym buddies and workout friends, it’s important to be conscientious of how much time you spend chatting and decompressing rather than devoting the energy you need to your workout. Use your workout partner as a way to hold each other accountable with motivation and inspiration. You can always plan to socialize and catch up with your friend at a post-workout smoothie session or coffee break.

4. Unplug from your phone.

Think of the gym as “you” time. Don’t check any of your social media, emails, or apps as you work out. This will not only help you stay focused, but it will also impact the efficiency and intensity of your workout. You may even find some therapeutic qualities from disconnecting from your phone and reconnecting with your body.

5. Keep the intensity.

We’ve all been guilty of this. Work? Check. Healthy lunch? Check. Work out? Check. We put on our athletic gear, go outside or head to the gym, but we just go through the motions; we drag ourselves through a workout just to fulfill an obligation. Are you actually putting effort and energy behind your workouts? The more intensely you perform, the more calories you’ll burn and the stronger you’ll become. It’s easy to convince yourself that you’re tired and don’t need to push yourself or get stuck in a boring routine. Remind yourself of the purpose of exercising and drive yourself to reach your fitness goals.

6. Meal prep

Putting together a healthy meal takes time, and you’ll be more likely to reach for unhealthier options when you are pressed for time. The key to eating healthy on a busy schedule is to prepare ahead of time so that meals and snacks are easily accessible when you need them. Check out a few of our favorite recipes designed to power you through your day here.