5 Brilliant Pieces of Advice to Make You Enjoy Running Again

Running is a love-hate relationship.

There are days you feel so hyped up to go for a run and then there are days where you just cannot get yourself moving.

Even if you do manage to put yourself out there and start running, it's a struggle.

You might feel better after the first 10 minutes, but shortly after, there comes a blockage.

There is no energy, no motivation behind what you're doing.

That's why I'll provide you with a list of solutions that can make your running journey fun again.

You'll find that motivation, trust me.

1. Invest Some Time in Searching for New Music

I cannot stress this enough. Running with music in your ear opens up another world. But what happens if doesn't do the job anymore?

It's because of your boring ass songs.

The same songs you've been listening to for months. There is no dopamine left in them, or at least not for that particular moment.

So before you lace up your shoes, search for new songs on Spotify or Apple Music. Maybe even something outside of your genre. For instance, I was never a rock fan but I started to listen to Machine Gun Kelly's songs to get me fueled up.

Don't judge me here.

I don't know how many times I was on the verge of giving up and then that one song started to come on. It gave me new life and out of nowhere my body produced so much more energy that I was completely fine for the rest of my run.

And the beauty in it is that you get to enjoy your run so much more.

Find new music that fits your vibe and gets you hyped up in case things go downhill.

2. Find a New Route

Finding a new route is crucial. I mentioned in my previous post, how important it is to break out of your routine.

There is no need for this if you are perfectly happy with your usual running route. But one thing is for sure, at some point, you will feel like it's getting harder and harder to get ready for your run. And that may be an indication to try something new.

The great part of running is that your mind wanders off. You get to enjoy these feelings that come across your body. You can get a similar sensation from discovering new places. Why not link them together?

Jogging through new streets, and passing new buildings, and different people, will provoke new thoughts and improve your overall experience.

Now your brain takes in so much more new information and the focus shifts from "Oh my God, I don't think I can do this much longer" to "Oh no way, that looks pretty nice there".

A new place is a great way to find new ideas.

Try it out.

3. Stop Running in Circles and Go for a One-Way Route

I never really thought about this one, until recently.

I went for my usual run in the park, it was great. I ran for 40 Minutes and it would take me like 4 rounds. Next time, I was more tired, and these demons started creeping in. Even before I even started running.

"Ah, let's see if I'll do 4 rounds, feeling kinda tired today. Maybe I'll do 3, we'll see".

And guess what, even before I finished the third round, my demons got stronger.

"Come on, you did 4 laps last time, you're probably not going to make the whole lap anyways, and then you need to walk the rest. You can just quit now and call it a day."

Some days you win, and some days you lose. Unfortunately, I lost that time.

But when I'm running a one-way route, I know that I have to run until the end, even if I don't feel like it.

The difference is that I don't always run past my exit. My exit is at the end.

Therefore, I'm not as exposed to the temptation of quitting. No shortcuts here.

I rather jog for 15 minutes until the end, than stop running and walk for 40 minutes.

4. Pay Attention to Your Energy Level and Adjust Your Playlist to It

In the first point, I said that you should find new songs that can keep your energy level high. But you must use them properly.

For example, I started to realize that in the first 10 minutes of my jog, when I listen to songs that hype me up like crazy (dubstep, hard rock, etc), I'm getting tired much faster. All that energy was wasted at the start.

But when I decide to listen to more chill music in the beginning, and slowly build up the "hype" in my songs, with decreasing energy levels my music gets louder and forces me to get the most out of myself.

When it gets hard, you'll want the right songs on your side.

When you get to your limits, it's better to have Rocky on your side, instead of Adele (whereas "Set Fire to the Rain" will get you places…).

5. Schedule Your Coffee Intake Accordingly

We all know that caffeine is an energy booster.

I'm not telling you to have an extra coffee just to start your workout, but if you have a coffee anyways, why not put it right before your workout?

The extra energy you'll get is not wasted by just sitting at your desk and being hall hyper. That's such a waste. Use it wisely.

If you bring that energy with you when working out, it's easier and more fun.

Conclusion

I hope that you can apply one of these devices next time you go for a run.

Remember that not everything has to work out right away or be exciting at first. But over time, you'll see how much of a difference they can make.

Not all great things are discovered on the first try.