Let’s be real – no matter our fitness level or experience in the gym, we are all looking for the easiest way to stay motivated and workout in a time efficient way so we can enjoy other areas of our lives.

But life can get busy, and sometimes you have to put one area of your life temporarily on the back burner as you handle other areas that need more attention at that time. 

That’s why we’re letting you in on one of the fitness industry’s best-kept secrets.

One of the best ways to keep you motivated and accountable with your workouts while maintaining your relationships, social life, and health is to bring a friend to workout with you.

Now, maybe you’re thinking, “But I enjoy working out on my own. It’s my time for me.” We understand that many people, especially those who’ve been working out for a long time, are intrinsically motivated to come to the gym and workout on their own. And if you’re one of those people, we encourage you to keep doing that!

But if you’re not one of those people, or if there are other areas of your life that may need some attention (specifically those involving relationships with others), it’s not a bad idea to consider adding a friend to your workout plan. Here’s why:

1. Working out with a friend can increase your motivation during your workout

It’s easy to say, “I’ll go to the gym later after I do this”. Before you know it, the gym is closed for the day. “I’ll just go tomorrow after I finish this project.” The next day, things pop up, you attend to them, and before you know it the gym is closed AGAIN…and the cycle continues. Accountability means showing up to and owning your words and actions. Planning to work out with a friend is exactly that – a plan where another person expects you to show up. And when you plan a day and time to meet your friend at the gym to workout, you’re not only showing up for you, but for them too. You are more likely to remain accountable to your workouts when you make it a planned time to meet up with your friend.

3. A workout partner gives you the opportunity to socialize
Are you a stay-at-home parent? Do you work from home? Or does your work schedule keep you from spending time with friends? Humans need social interaction, and in any of these situations it can be difficult to make time to socialize with friends, especially if you’re focused on making it to the gym too. Why not combine socialization with your workouts by working out with a friend? Though working out requires focus and attention, it is also a great time to catch up with your friend on the latest in your lives while simultaneously working towards your health and fitness goals.

4. You’re more likely to develop and stick with healthy habits (with the right friend!)
You know that saying “You are the company you keep”? When determining who you want to be your gym friend, make sure it’s someone who shares a similar outlook on health and fitness as you. Humans instinctively mimic the actions, emotions, and behaviors of people that they’re around due to mirror neurons in the cerebral cortex – think facial expressions, hand gestures, and speech patterns and tones – and a phenomena known as emotional contagion, where simply seeing and feeling another person’s emotion causes you to adopt that emotion (Gaines, Ph.D., Jeffrey). If your workout friend is someone who prioritizes happy hour or Netflix over a workout, you’ll likely find yourself anywhere else but the gym. But if you workout with a friend who prioritizes their health and fitness goals, you’ll find that you may start to prioritize those same things for yourself.  

5. A workout friend can provide support and safety during your workouts

Ready to make your friend your workout partner?

Invite them to American Family Fitness now. 

Sources

Gaines, Ph.D., Jeffrey; Emotional Contagion: The Social power of Emotions Explained. Positive Psychology, February 9, 2021. https://positivepsychology.com/emotional-contagion/