Why exercise is better with a buddy

No matter how you’re feeling or what day it is, it can be tricky to find the motivation to exercise if you do your workouts solo. Sometimes it can feel like the hardest thing you’ve done, and other times it can leave you feeling on top of the world. So, it helps to have a workout buddy to help share the journey along the way!

So, where do you begin?

Group workout classes can be a great place to start if you’re looking to meet new people who enjoy staying active in a similar way to you. But, if you’ve already got a designated workout buddy, there are plenty of partner workouts out there that you can do at home or in the gym. If you fancy a change of scenery, going for a run with another person or making a splash in the pool are also good options that keep you fit and get you socialising!

Now, let’s get to the benefits of doing all of this with somebody by your side:

Endorphin boosts. We know that working out releases endorphins (our feel-good hormones), but exercising with a friend or in a group setting can take this one step further. One way is by smiling. When you’re doing a workout you enjoy with supportive people, the friendliness can make you feel good from within!

To build a routine. It can be easy to make excuses to get out of working out, especially if you’re alone. But when you have someone waiting on you to turn up and support them and vice versa, you’re much more likely to keep at a regular routine.

It creates community. Exercising with like-minded people who have shared aims brings much more than support, it’s a valuable source of belonging and healthy competition. This is where group workout classes can come in handy!

To diversify your workouts. There are only some exercises that you can do alone, so the benefit of having a plus one at the gym is how creative you can get with partner workouts. The person you’re with can also help you perform an exercise correctly and safely, especially when you’re using weighted equipment.

The healthy habits of other people rub off on us! One study showed that the more time people looking to lose weight spent with their physically fitter friends, the more weight they lost. It’s not just about weight loss though, seeing the healthier habits of others can help us work harder, become more accountable, and boost our spirits.

Sources: The Scientific Reason Smiling Might Make Your Workout More Powerful (well+good) | The effects of facial expression and relaxation cues on movement economy, physiological, and perceptual responses during running (Psychology of Sport and Exercise) | Desire for weight loss, weight-related social contact, and body mass outcomes (The Obesity Society)