Why Zoning Out When Working Out Is a Bad Thing

For just over a week now, I’ve committed to daily workouts instead of my usual occasional walking and yoga. And already I can feel a difference in my overall strength and flexibility!

But I’ve learned that zoning out while exercising (something I was notorious for when walking on the treadmill) could cause some dangerous problems.

Working out is an excellent way to keep your body (and mind) healthy, but whether you’re losing focus (and therefore interest) in your routine, lifting with incorrect posture, or causing an accidental injury, there are more than a few reasons that zoning out while you work out isn’t a good thing. Check out these potential consequences of not being present while exercising, and tips for staying focused!

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Loss of Focus

When you start to zone out when you’re performing your workout routine, it could be a sign that you’re starting to lose interest. Let’s face it, exercising can be tedious…especially if you’re doing the same workouts on a daily or weekly basis. This can cause a loss of focus, which in itself can be dangerous if you’re not watching what you’re doing.

It’s important to consider what you think about when you zone out. Often, we’ll focus on something that’s been bothering us or that needs to be addressed. Unfinished business, guilt, and all manner of emotions can cause you to zone out, so pay close attention to your thought. to help you nail down the potential cause of your disruption and correct it to prevent further distraction.

Staying focused both helps you achieve your workout goals, and helps prevent any potential injuries that could result from not exercising correctly. Lifting weights becomes especially dangerous when your attention is not focused, so be sure to find the root cause of the distraction and take steps to prevent it.

Incorrect Posture

Posture is everything when you’re working out, and it’s one of the first things to go if you’re distracted. That doesn’t just increase your risk of injury, it also makes your workout routine less efficient. And nobody wants to do twice as much work to get to their goal!

Maintaining posture should be your primary goal any time you do a workout. If zoning out is preventing you from exercising correctly, you’ll want to figure out what’s causing your distraction as soon as possible. The last thing you want is a torn ligament, broken bone, or back injury.

Accidental Injury

Accidental injuries when working out are quite common, especially among those who are new to the practice. Incorrect posture, combined with zoning out, creates the potential for some serious hazards.

Remember that at the end of the day, working out is putting strain on your muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints. Whether you’re deadlifting, doing squats, or simply jogging on the treadmill, the potential for accidental injury increases tenfold when you’re not paying attention.

A back injury is one of the most common workout-related injuries, and one that’s slow to heal. People also dislocate bones, pull tendons, and even tear muscles if they aren’t careful. Save yourself time, pain, stress, and money by ensuring your workout is engaging and you keep your focus from beginning to end.

Set Goals

Sometimes zone-out occurs simply because you go into the gym with no direction. Setting weekly workout goals and planning specific workouts ensures that you’re maximizing your exercise time and minimizing the chances that you’ll get distracted.

Write down your goals in a planner or in your phone’s digital calendar, and check them off as you go. This will help you stay focused and also creates a sense of accomplishment when you reach your weekly goals.

You can also work with a partner to help you set your goals and remain accountable for reaching them. Having someone in your corner rooting for you is a great motivator, and can help you keep your eye on the prize when you’re working out. Supporting each other also helps build great bonds of friendship, and the gym is the perfect place to make new goal-oriented friends.

Work Out in a Distraction-Free Zone

If your gym has too many TVs or your home weight room has too many distractions, it could be the reason you’re zoning out so often. Minimizing your environmental distractions is key to staying focused and getting the most out of your workouts. Too many TVs? Find an isolated spot or a different gym. Too much distraction at home? Maybe it’s time for a gym membership.

Working out with correct posture and focus can help prevent injury and maximize your time working out. Remember that minimizing distractions and getting to the core of why you’re zoning out are the best ways to get back on track and stay focused. Employ a trusted friend to help you stay accountable, and don’t forget to set and track your weekly goals!

Having trouble finding motivation to get moving at all? Make sure to check out my 4 tips to help busy moms get active!

3 thoughts on “Why Zoning Out When Working Out Is a Bad Thing”

  1. I dont know if it’s the same thing , but my brain keeps tripping out, ( momentary blackouts) frequently after about 4 miles , 6 km . If I dont wear the safety tag, then it throws me off without having made a conscious decision to stop running. Any ideas anyone please ????????

  2. I tend to zone out while exercising too. It is something I have to be mindful of and concentrate on my work out to stay focused.

  3. I am definitely guilty of zoning out when I work out but I never really thought about it. Going to have to get myself out of that habit .

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