For many people, especially newcomers to fitness, a major problem that kills motivation and makes fitness so hard is simply how boring it is. It doesn’t have to be, of course—it just requires a little bit of creativity or knowledge to discover ways to make your exercise far more enjoyable and engaging. Here’s how to get fit and have fun doing it.

Make It a Game

Anything can become more fun if you create an objective. For example, if you have a workout buddy, consider starting a little bit of friendly competition. This takes the focus off simply trying to get through your routine toward focusing on an achievable goal within the span of one workout. Competition naturally motivates us to try harder and we’re often rewarded with dopamine if we win.

Alternatively, there have been many attempts to combine exercise with video games. The Nintendo Wii, for example, has a few games centered around fitness. This sort of option is ideal while we’re still in quarantine, as it’s more difficult to work out with others.

Sign up for an Event

Next on the topic of how to get fit and have fun doing it, some people find enjoyment from the greater challenges of public events like marathons. This makes the preparation for a marathon more enjoyable because you’ll get to see how well your training pays off and your results stack up with other athletes. The same can be said of other fitness events, such as weightlifting competitions.

Try New Activities

Maybe you don’t want something as serious as a competition. Instead, why not try a new hobby that involves physical activity? Taking up a new sport or activity like dancing is a great way to get plenty of cardiovascular exercise. For sports, it goes back to the idea of competition and how that can be motivating, while some people find activities like dancing simply fun.