When it comes to physical fitness, do you find it challenging to stay focused? Do you often find yourself too distracted, or trying various programs but are unable to follow through? Unfortunately, this is the reality men struggle with daily, as there are plenty of distractions that can hinder our physical growth. However, there are steps you can take to limit those hindrances.
Have a plan.
Unless you have a plan in place, it is very easy to lose focus. In the past, I spent upwards of two and a half hours at the gym, mainly socializing, because I didn’t have a strategy to aspire to. However, once I had a plan in place, I became more focused and saw the benefits of having a workout plan. Whether building muscle or improving your endurance, write down the exercises, reps, and sets you want to achieve that day. Be diligent!
Set a time.
Depending on what kind of workout you do, whether it is cardiovascular or muscular training, the time will vary. Research indicates you need no more than forty-five to sixty minutes for muscular training, and thirty to sixty minutes for cardiovascular training. The amount of time to rest in between sets also varies as it depends on what you want to achieve. To increase strength and power, two to five minutes of rest is needed; for muscle growth, thirty to ninety seconds; and for muscular endurance, thirty seconds or less.
Now, for some of us, those guidelines may not be attainable. Whether it be a busy work schedule or having young children at home, doing a forty-five to sixty-minute workout isn’t always possible. Being a father of two kids under the age of two, I also find myself in that predicament.
The critical thing to remember is that something is always better than nothing. Even if you only have twenty minutes to complete a workout, that is still good exercise. Find a time slot in the day and do your best with the time you have. Something is always better than nothing.
Eliminate entertainment.
Entertainment is something that can easily distract us from our physical health goals. There are usually multiple televisions at the gym. Whatever is playing, it can negatively impact our ability to stay focused. To combat this, I found success in finding a quieter area of the gym, such as the corner. Although this may not always be a viable option, look for quieter sections, and sometimes the studio is another great option (if there are no classes, of course). This is a tricky one, but with the right mindset going in, it can be done.
Limit the amount of time on your phone.
This can be challenging, as we may be using our phones because of the various workout apps that help with creating workout plans; they also give us the ability to listen to music. One trick I do is to create a playlist on my phone to avoid having to keep pulling my phone out to find another song to listen to. I also suggest writing your workout plan in a notebook instead of having to look at your phone. The more you can avoid looking at your phone, the more you will stay focused on the task at hand.
In today’s society, many things can keep us distracted from working out and exercising. However, and more importantly, we can also lose focus on our relationship with God. Although these four tips are impactful for working out, they can be used to better our relationship with God, too. Proverbs 4:25 says, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” Let’s choose to stay aligned with God and what His word says, as we focus on both our spiritual and physical health.
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