The Health Benefits of Exercising with Friends

Sometimes it’s nice to get away from it all and relieve some stress alone at the gym. However, adding a friend to the mix can show you a side of exercising that you can’t appreciate on your own. The following benefits only exist when you introduce a buddy to your workouts. Always talk to your doctor before you start a new exercise routine.

1. You’ll keep up with your workouts
It’s easy to find an excuse to skip out on the gym when you’re the only one going. But when you have to tell a friend you won’t be joining them, it’s not as easy. Once you start making a routine out of your workouts together, you’ll both start to rely on each other. Pretty soon, a short pep talk will be all it takes to lift your spirits when you don’t feel like exercising.

2. You’ll be more motivated
When you have someone else telling you to keep going or push harder, it boosts your drive. The voice inside your head may be telling you to quit, but the voice of your friend can help drown it out. That’s why added encouragement often translates to increased intensity.

3. You’ll be safer
Whether you’re lifting weights or doing cardio, a spotter is always handy. If something goes wrong when you’re working out by yourself, you’re at the mercy of others at the gym who you don’t know. If something goes wrong when you’re with a friend, you have a helping hand just inches away that you know you can rely on.

4. You’ll learn new exercises
Unless you’ve been working out together your entire life, it’s highly likely that your friend knows a few exercises that you’ve never done before. Use each other as inspiration to try new things and work out different muscle groups. When you stick to the same routine every day, muscle memory can take over and hinder you from getting stronger.

5. You’ll have more fun
Friends ease tension and boost mood. Plus, there’s no better way to kill the downtime between sets than by catching up with a close friend.