Did you know that working out with a friend can have more benefits than working out alone? Apart from improving your health, exercising with friends offers many other benefits. Let’s see what they are!
Receive Support When Exercising With Friends
Research from the University of Aberdeen in 2015 showed that exercising with friends can increase the amount of exercise performed. The study involved two groups of participants: an emotional group that received emotional encouragement and an instrumental group that was motivated with the help of exercise equipment. As a result, the emotional group was shown to exercise more thanks to the emotional support of their friends. So, exercising with friends can make you more energized and motivated.
Other Benefits of Exercising with Friends
According to Better Health Channel, working out with friends has many benefits, especially in maintaining morale and motivation. Here are some other benefits:
1. Doesn’t Get Bored Quickly
Exercising alone can make you bored quickly due to the lack of social interaction. However, exercising with friends can make physical activity more enjoyable. For example, when jogging, you can chat with your friends so that the time and distance traveled feel shorter and more enjoyable.
2. Exercise More Vigorously
The presence of friends can make you try harder to exercise. When someone else is watching, you tend to want to perform at your best. This can make you more active and energized in exercising.
3. Safer
Exercising with friends also provides a sense of security, especially when exercising outdoors or at unsafe times. For example, when jogging at night, the presence of a friend can provide a sense of security because you know there is someone who can help if something goes wrong.
4. Building Healthy Friendships
Working out with friends is a great way to spend quality time and strengthen relationships. You can share stories and support each other in achieving your fitness goals. It can also be an opportunity to expand your network of friends, especially if you join a fitness class at a gym or fitness center.
5. Trying a New Type of Sport
With a friend, you can more easily try new types of exercise that may require a partner, such as yoga or team sports. Friends can also give you new ideas about interesting and fun physical activities to do together.
6. Improving Exercise Efficiency
Working out with a partner can make your workout more efficient. According to Psychology Today, having a reliable workout partner can increase the energy generated during exercise. So, when you exercise with your partner, your enthusiasm and passion for exercise will increase. As a result, your workout will be maximized and more enjoyable.
7. Strengthen Emotional Bonds
When you exercise together, you and your partner will match the rhythm of your movements, such as walking at the same pace. This can strengthen the emotional bond between the two of you. Feeling the togetherness and cooperation in exercising makes your relationship more harmonious and compact. Not only is it healthy, but the emotional bond is also strengthened.
8. Growing Commitment and Responsibility
With encouragement from your partner, you’ll be more likely to stick to a healthy lifestyle and achieve your exercise goals. Having a common goal to be healthy together can increase your commitment and responsibility. Creating a workout schedule together helps eliminate bad habits and build good habits in the relationship.
9. Make it Easier to Achieve Targets
Working out with your partner can make it easier to achieve the goals you’re working towards. The presence of your partner gives you that extra push and boosts your confidence. In addition, you can set goals with your partner to motivate each other. That way, achieving your goals becomes easier and more enjoyable.
10. Dissipate Negative Energy and Increase Happiness
Exercise is known to be an effective way to boost your mood as your body releases endorphins that can make you feel happy and relaxed. However, exercising with your partner can maximize these benefits. Couples who regularly exercise together are less likely to be aggressive as negative energy is released through physical activity. This makes for a happier and more harmonious relationship.
Not just healthy and fit, working out with your partner at Focus Fit offers many emotional and mental benefits. So, invite your partner to exercise together and experience all the amazing benefits for yourself. Guaranteed, your laziness will disappear and you’ll be more motivated to live a healthy life with your loved one!