How to "Focus" while working out?
I really struggle maintaining the mental focus to finish a full hour-long workout. I'm not naturally unathletic (played basketball in HS) but have been wanting to get back into shape now that I'm an "adult". Every time I start running on the treadmill, or lifting some weights, the only thing in my head is "damn, I have X task to finish, or that I should finish studying Y, I should text Z girl, or any unrelated thought, that makes me end up quitting halfway. Anyone have any tips that have worked to help "block out" unrelated thoughts and finish workouts?
Adderall and/or Modafinil
Just stop being a pussy. Sounds blunt, but it works. Sometimes I’ll get near the end of my workout and my brain goes “I don’t really have to do the last two lifts, right? Nothings gonna happen if I skip them this one time.” And then I stop for a second, realize that’s my brain trying to make me act like a little bitch, and tell myself to stop being a pussy. It works every time because once I frame it like that, I can never let myself give in to being so weak.
this is correct
SB for this. I think the same thing.
I listen to podcast while running, that’s helped a lot. It makes me less inclined to think “Today I’ll take the short route”
I hate cardio, even with music or podcasts. It’s torture to me to run on a treadmill or do the elliptical or stairs. I played basketball in high school, and since I’m in college I’ll just go to the gym and play pickup for 2 hours until I’m dead. That won’t be sustainable for my joints long term though, so I might have to pick up swimming at some point.
I think about economics when I'm working out.
I still finish my work out.
It's about discipline and control.
Why are they booing you? you’re right!
At a certain point you either do the workout or you don’t, simple as that.
I guess people wanted a more detailed answer? Who knows.
People def like to over-complicate things when it comes to a simple mental switch.
You should try meditation some time
Have you tried compartmentalising thoughts?
eg ‘ I have to phone xyz’
try saying to yourself when random thoughts pop in your head ‘ok I have to phone xyz. I have 21 mins of my workout remaining. I will deal with it when I finish in 21 mins’ After a while it becomes a habit.
I second this. In order to not forget any useful thoughts that pop up at inconvenient moments, I tend to jot them down in key words on my phone. Anything else can wait.
I do the same, if I get an important thought that's distracting me during a workout I'll quickly open up notes and type it so I can forget about it.
Leave your phone in the locker room and build your workouts around exercises you both enjoy doing and are challenging (squats for instance)
Mental toughness is hard. Just do it. Refuse to lose! It's habit forming and will make everything you do better!
Block out 45 minutes or an hour of your day solely to work out, and do high intensity man. Also get a good playlist going and get some preworkout.
Ramp up the intensity.
I just did 11:43 of intensity - 2mi treadmill (5:52 pace).
10mph - 11.2mph. Started at 10.0 - no warmup, but I indoor cycled earlier today.
“if you’re having fun, you aren’t going hard enough.”
if I catch myself thinking about real life when I’m working out it’s usually because I’m not pushing myself. When you’re really giving 110% everything else kinda fades away, that’s like the #1 reason why I go to the gym.
Imo if I am not struggling in the gym I don't think I'm using proper mind muscle connection or I have shit form. To be quite frank this is a mentality to have in life nothing good comes easy and never will.
Heavy squats and heavy metal.
CAFFIENE CAFFEINE CAFFEINEEEEEE
Does the lack of focus start right away or only midway through the workout? My problem was always that I go hard for 20 min and then lose focus. Ultimately decided that instead of solving it, I’ll just do shorter workouts and do them more often. I know it sounds inefficient bc it’s more trips, but I question whether that time (changing, getting to gym, showering etc) is really “lost”. It’s probably a needed mental break anyways.
You need to stop being a PUSSY BITCH. Why did you go to the gym if not for MAKING SOME MAD GAINZ. Add more PLATES. Do more REPS.
Abuse yourself. If you're in the mental state of 'oh I should text xyz' then you aren't pushing yourself enough. I never listen to music or have pre /caffeine. I push myself hard and 80% of the time my headspace is completely clear and I am just living in the moment feeling my pump and the blood flowing. Sounds weird but that's the zone you need to be in for GAINZ.
In the moments when I start 'daydreaming' I remind myself that I am present in the gym for this period of time for one purpose, and that if I'm not focusing then I'm wasting my time.
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