How important is “fun” to your exercise routine?
Boston University sports psychologist Adam Naylor has worked out a theory (pun intended).
Some fitness experts say incorporating fun into your workout is the best way to ensure you stay diligent. If there’s no element of pleasure, how on earth could we stay motivated?
Adam Naylor, a sports psychologist and professor at BU’s School of Education, begs to differ. You don’t have to have a blast during your workouts — you just have to enjoy the feeling after it and the feeling of accomplishing a hard-earned triumph.
“Fun is overrated in sports and exercise, but enjoyment is essential,” Naylor said in The Boston Globe. “This is actually a word-precision and mental-cuing issue. ‘Fun’ too often plants seeds of frivolousness in our minds. Think tropical vacation with frozen drinks. ‘Enjoyment,’ on the other hand, cues images of challenges being embraced. Think the healthy struggle of a hard fought victory on the playing field or other positive stresses attacking a triathlon.
“Fun is overrated in sports and exercise, but enjoyment is essential.” — BU professor Adam Naylor
“A regular, healthy approach to exercise reaps so many cognitive and emotional benefits — lower levels of stress, greater feelings of energy, better cognitive functioning, and deeper and more sound sleep,” Naylor said. “Beyond this, the accomplishment that comes with reaching exercise goals or succeeding at an athletic challenge can enhance our feelings of self-efficacy and ultimately confidence.”
He added that a good exercise regimen doesn’t have to be thrilling or daunting to be worth it.
“Healthy lifestyles can be simple and fulfilling: A jog on the beach. A game of tennis with a friend. Walking the dog,” Naylor said. “These all can suffice for exercise.”
Read the whole Globe article, by correspondent Brion O’Connor, here:
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