I’m putting on my Captain Obvious cape for this one: doing the same thing over and over is boring.
Worse, it has diminishing returns. Assuming that we’re all not as afraid of boredom as I am.
When we do the same workout, or the same kind of workout, every single time we hit the gym, it is, of course, easier. There’s a reduced cognitive load. In other words, we don’t have to think about what we’re doing. Our bodies know what to do and they get on with it, brain optional.
The thing is, bodies are efficiency experts. They don’t want to work hard unless we make them. They’re always saving something in case we have to run away from a hippopotamus or something.
One way to get bodies to work harder is to give them something novel to do. (No, not a novel to read. That’s for AFTER the workout.) Trying a new sport or a new piece of equipment or a new class or a new instructor wakes the brain up. We have different challenges for our bodies to face. Our bodies move differently in Zumba versus swimming. At least I hope so.
We are going to like some kinds of moving more than others. It is perfectly okay to have favorites. We just need to throw ourselves a monkey wrench from time to time.
Go play.
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