1 May 2020

Benefits of…solo exercises

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Lucy TomlinsonActive Kent & Medway

Exercising alone or at home, gives you the flexibility to work out when you want, where you want. Exercising on your own takes a lot of personal strength and discipline but the reward is worth it and in the end, you can take all the credit. Here are some benefits for exercising alone:

Anytime, anywhere

Exercising alone or at home in your own time, allows for greater spontaneity. Whether its 10 minutes here, or five minutes there, any time can be a great opportunity, for example, for a power walk or a set of squats at your desk. If you’re tied to co-ordinating with others in a group session, these opportunities may be lost. It’s important to consider exercise as a standard part of your daily routine – just like brushing your teeth and showering. Make it easy on yourself and choose a time and a place that’s most convenient and works for you.

It can be less intimidating

If you’re prone to self-consciousness or you’re new to exercise, the thought of getting sweaty in the company of other people can be daunting. When you’re on your own you don’t have to think about what you’re wearing, what other people are wearing, their body shape, your body shape, how fit everyone else is, how unfit you may feel, how fast they are going, how slow you might be going. You can just focus on you and the job at hand. Exercising solo will not only help build your fitness up but also help to build up your confidence too. You might then get to a point where you’re happy to join a group exercise environment.

Less distraction

Working out with other people leaves room for more distraction, especially if you’re with your mates. If you have a lot to talk about, it’s all too easy for your run to become a walk and the quality of your session can be affected.

Take charge of your workouts

Exercising solo allows you to take full charge of your workouts. This means you can be more impulsive, decide your own goals, and go as hard as you want to. You’re not beholden to anyone else and you can tailor your workouts to what your body and your mind needs.

It’s a good excuse for some ‘me time’

With everything that’s going on around us, it can be hard to find time to just be with our own thoughts (or that podcast you’ve been dying to listen to). Even a half-hour walk or swimming laps can give you the opportunity to think without too much distraction from other people, and to work through any personal issues or stresses you may be experiencing. Working out alone can be a chance to grab that ‘me time’. A chance to spend some time with yourself, doing something for yourself. In today’s environment we don’t get a lot of ‘me time’ so exercising alone can be a great way to achieve this.