How to get Smarter during Your Killer Workout

Where in the world do you find time to workout? Is it in between your 2,500 word essays? Before reading the news? Or after a zombified existence at the obligatory day job. While I would love to worship my temple of a body. I’m constantly waterboarding myself with coffee and stuffing my face with calories to keep my brain going. All the while slowly melting into my chair. Even if I do make it to the gym. Working out just doesn’t feel right when you have the ghosts of procrastinated assignments looming over your shoulders. So how do you have a “Smarter Workout”?

Like any superhero movie, we need an amazing origin story. “Smarter Workouts” started when a lone student had to submit a thesis paper while waging a two-front war against the obese Reich. There comes a point when your 3rd cup of coffee doesn’t help you anymore. So instead of embracing the insanity of doing the same thing over and over again. I uploaded my entire coursework onto my blog, saved the article on “Pocket,” then used Pocket’s “Listen” feature to listen to the entire curriculum while I went out for a walk. It was amazing.

Don’t feel like torturing your eyes under a dimly lit library? Have your work read to you instead. Have a serious case of writer’s block? Re-find your inspiration by listening to other people’s work while you go on a well earned shopping spree. Want to get smarter during your workout? Listen to audio books while you run on a guilt-free treadmill.

Assemble Your Audio Avengers

It’s easy to mix-and-match your audio avengers when you understand the benefits of each medium.

Audio Blogs + Weight Lifting

Some people collect books, I’m an avid collector of great content. In other words, I hoard blog posts. I constantly fill “Pocket” with new articles all the while consciously ignoring the a pile of unread content. For some reason, I can’t bring myself to delete old content, “What if I want to read them later?” Pocket’s “Listen” helps me get through my overstocked reading list. Audio blogs pair well with weightlifting. Listen to an article, do a full set of Bench Presses. Listen to the next article, do a full set up Squats.

Audio Books + Running

While there’s nothing like reading your favorite hardcover book in peace. Sometimes carrying three, 400 page, hardcover books at the same time is not the smartest move. Albeit being a book hoarder does give you a good workout in of itself. When I’m on the move, I use “Google Play Books” to read eBooks. Then use the “Read Aloud” feature to automatically listen from where I stopped reading. So there isn’t a disparity between my visual reading and audio reading. You can also buy audio books from “Audible” to have an actual person read to you. Audio books are Ideal for long uninterrupted workouts like running.

Podcasts + Cycling

There are tons of productive podcasts that you’re supposed to listen to “The Economist” and “Freakonomics.” But the real reason I listen to podcasts is to hear the hosts go off topic. I listen to “Android Authority” to keep up with the latest tech news, and to follow the latest random comments about going to movies, getting drunk at CES, and Black Friday nightmares. Podcasts are great company when you have a long bike ride ahead of you.

Lectures + Stationary Bike

There are times when I feel uber-productive and start listening to University lectures. Or if I’m in an ultra-optimistic mood, I supplement my diet with idealistic TED videos which try their best to restore my faith in humanity. As lectures require utmost concentration, stationary bikes set to low-intensity work best.

Radio + Walking

I generally don’t listen to the radio. Firstly I hate not being the master of my own playlist. Secondly I hate ads. There should really be an Adblock for radio. The only time I listen to the radio is when I’m brain-dead tired and just want to listen to anything on the air. Ideal for walking home after having your life energy drained by the mega corporation.

Create a Designated Audio Learning Time

There’s always a dilemma when listening to recent episode of “Serial.” Do I sit in my chair, put on my headphones, and stare into the abyss looking like an idiot? You somehow feel guilty when you don’t utilize your time to the fullest. My “productivity junkie conscious” constantly nags me about how I’m taking the long way around. That there’s a better way to sort through these piles. That your missing out on a more productive program.

Make your workout time your “audio learning” time. Normally you don’t have a designated time to just listen to great stories. Next time you feel like going for a run, you’re actually going to listen to your professor’s lecture. Next time you want to lift weights, you’re actually going to listen to the latest TED talk. You’ll find that you’ll look forward to your workouts. Not just because it keeps your body alive, but also because it’s a chance to learn something new.

Get Shit Done

Reading a hard cover book, with a cup of coffee, with your asshole cat sitting on your lap is a sublime experience. But sometimes you need to get shit done, and audio books are simply a faster way to read. Books are great for in-depth focus, but not ideal for rapid learning. Audio books have no interruptions. You could walk your golden retriever puppy through the park while listening to “Plato.” Or feed the monster under your bed while quickly catching up on the “Art of War.”

You can adjust the speed of audio books depending on how close your life-altering project deadline is. If listening to audio books is a bit foreign. Start at a x1 speed and work your way up to x1.5 speed. Turning on the British speaking option is a great way to pretend you have a English friend.

Get Smarter During Your Killer Workout

What does your “Smarter Workout” look like? Upgrade your workout by preparing your own smarter playlist. Listen to Nietzsche while you walk to work, learn about content marketing while you lift weights, and catch up on your favorite podcasts while you cycle to the nearest coffee shop. You have better things to do.