Boredom and exercise shouldn’t be synonymous. Unless you’re on a treadmill. In which case, I have no advice, except, “grin and bear it.”

To ramp up the fun factor, try mixing up your routine with one day of circuit training every week. This type of workout is great for clock watchers, and it is extremely effective as well.

Circuit Training Basics

Most strength training programs include 8-12 exercises. You move through your exercises in succession, with a short rest of 15 to 20 seconds between each one. Volume is typically higher, meaning higher reps, but lower weights. The number of times you complete the circuit is more than a typical strength training session – 4-5 circuits, rather than 2-3 sets of each exercise.

Because there is little rest between exercises, circuit training works best if lower-body and upper-body exercises are alternated.  For example, stationary reverse lunges followed by dumbbell shoulder presses.

Equipment

Free weights, fixed machines, resistance tubing, the TRX…whatever you prefer to train with, go for it. There are no “rules” here. The idea is to achieve high volume, low-intensity reps with little rest between sets.

To maximize your time between sets, I like to apply the same rule as with traditional strength training: Keep moving, or do something productive! In other words, don’t just stand there – practice your balance on a BOSU balance trainer, or stretch tight muscles.

Also, stick to the rule of performing multi-joint exercises before single-joint exercises. In plain English…lunges before hamstring curls, overhead presses before bicep curls, squats before leg extensions, and so on. If you aren’t sure if an exercise is multi-joint or not, take a moment to think about the number of joints moving during the exercise. During a stationary forward lunge, both the hip and knee joints flex, then extend, thus, it is a “multi”-joint exercise. During a hamstring curl, only the knee joint flexes. You get the picture. If not, as always, just ask. I love questions!