Tips to Make Your Workout Better

Whether you’re a seasoned gym-rat or you’re just starting out in the new year, working out is a feat many college students struggle with. Going from high school athlete to regular college student is an adjustment in more ways than one.

You have so much else to do—study for that exam, write that paper you’ve been putting off, or watch your favorite show with your roommate who you, somehow, haven’t seen in three weeks despite living three feet from each other.

Follow these tips to make your workout better to get the head start you need.

Make a schedule and stick to it

Make a workout schedule. Choose what days and times you’ll work out and block these times out in your calendar. If your friends invite you out during one of those times or your group project requests a meeting, get comfortable saying no. You made a commitment to yourself and your health—stick to it. Try suggesting different times and working with your friends and peers instead. Sticking to a regular schedule will help your workouts improve slowly over time.

Bonus Tip: Don’t forget to schedule in off days, too. Taking breaks and letting your body heal is important to staying on track with your fitness goals.

Listen to music

Listening to music while working out is a great way to motivate yourself. Listening to upbeat and exciting playlists can get your adrenaline pumping and get you ready to take on your entire workout without getting as tired as you may get without music.

Bonus Tip: Pick upbeat music that you’re really into. Getting lost in the music is one way to make a workout fly by.

Wear the right clothes

Jeans and a t-shirt aren’t going to work here. Make sure to wear pants and a shirt that have some stretch and give to the fabric, so you can move around easily and not allow your muscles to get cold. Wearing compression socks during a workout can be beneficial, too. They increase comfort and minimize the swelling often associated with rigorous exercise.

Bonus Tip: Getting supportive shoes can make or break a workout. Don’t settle for “good enough” shoes. Go ahead and splurge on really supportive ones to protect your arches and ankles from unnecessary strain.

Drink enough water

Leave your sports drinks at home—they’ll do you no good in the gym. Most drinks marketed as sports drinks are chock-full of sugars and other ingredients that may negate some of the workouts you complete by being quite high in calories.

Drinking enough water will help to prevent dehydration and keeps your muscles oxygenated and healthy. Drinking enough water is important in general, but especially so when working out. Dehydration can lead to more muscle cramps, exhaustion, longer recovery times, and more issues.

Bonus Tip: If you’re not keen on the taste of plain water, but don’t want to resort to sugary sports drinks, try putting a bit of fresh or frozen fruit in your water bottle. Just a few cucumbers, lemons, or frozen grapes can transform your water.

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