Exercises as an Amusement Essay Example

Sweat. Misery. Rage. How did you end up here? Ever thought about how boring and dull exercising can be? Truth is, it isn’t. Exercising is not just a hobby that people take on for vanity, but it is a lifestyle that provides mental clarity, energy, freedom, a will to live! Not only does working out provide an infinite number of physical and mental benefits, but it is a source of enjoyment that many people need to get on. Many people have preconditioned beliefs that exercise sucks and is only seen as “just something they have to do”. That is such a closed-minded way to approach such a radical form of therapy, no? One may say that the act of exercise itself is a dreadful and self-punishing burden, however, the features surrounding it may be the key to unlocking entertainment in misery. The components associated with exercise bring upon many positive outcomes and are the overlooked cause of what makes it an enjoyable and entertaining activity. Whether you think it’s fun or not, you’ve got to run away from the false narrative that working out is a chore, and that the elements of exercise and the true act of working out all lead back to one conclusion. Fun.  

Here’s something the media doesn’t want you to know- you don’t have to exercise to lose weight. Exercise is like reading. Just like how one can read for entertainment, not always to learn, one can exercise without wanting to lose weight. Sure, weight loss is commonly associated with exercise, but just because we’ve been spoonfed this notion, does not mean we have to swallow. 

Drinking a protein shake results in muscle growth, as working out results in stronger mental health. However, because exercise provides mental benefits, it causes people to enjoy it, making it a fun and rewarding pastime. Working out is a great way to improve and sustain your mental well-being, which in turn presents pleasure and fulfilment. We all know working out is vital in upkeep your physical appearance, health, and whatnot, but what is not talked about enough is how it can be so good for keeping us mentally sane. Exercising can be viewed as fun when it becomes an outlet to socialize with the people around you. Often people exercise with friends and family, which can make the experience more enjoyable, and provide mental relief. Therefore, without knowing it, exercise becomes an amusing pastime rather than a relentless chore because of its close proximity to something enjoyable, like spending time with friends. Now, believe it or not, scientifically, exercise is fun. According to many medical studies, your body releases endorphins, your body’s natural pain killer, serotonin, your body’s “happy drug” and dopamine, the pleasure hormone, all from working out. This helps provide mental clarity, which is why many people find pleasure in working out. Not only that, the release of these hormones helps to relieve anxiety and stress (as mentioned earlier), thus, the emotional release after a workout is what makes people come back to it, in a way making it “addictive”. Exercise becomes a hobby for many people, as the positive outcomes that come out of it, such as social interaction and management of mental health, drive people to find interest and regularly engage in this activity. 

As a former exercise hater, I can attest to the fact that working out can seem boring and monotonous. The thought of running for miles, but going nowhere, lifting to be physically healthy, but waking up with painful soreness. It all made no sense to me. What’s so fun about that? Nothing, but also everything. Now that I’ve become such a strong advocate for exercise, I see both sides and think it’s so important that everyone sees exercise for what it is. And that’s the thing. Fun is relative to every individual, and knowing what I know now, I wish I had started exercising sooner. Just as fun comes in many forms, so does exercise, which is what makes it so fun. Something about finding new ways to challenge your body not only provides pleasure and satisfaction but also helps build an open mind. The diverse selection of workouts ensures that there is something new to try for everyone, and it is practically impossible to get bored of exercising, as you can always try something new to spice things up! Exercise is not a one-size-fits-all, and as a result, there are many different forms of movement that fit within a person's parameters of fun and conform to their needs, but trying new workouts to see what is for you is very important to having fun. According to a recent Harvard study, it was concluded that performing and learning new things improves mood and decreases boredom. Thus, it can be stated that wanting to try something new for amusement, can cause people to be drawn toward exercise, due to its diverse nature. And for many people, a hot, sweaty, workout as your heavy breath quickens, bringing out an instinctive, adrenaline-fueled, euphoric thrill, may just be that. 

In a recent survey amongst active individuals, participants provided rationales for what made working out so enjoyable. About 78% of the responses related to the type of environment they worked out in. From this data, it was concluded that the environment greatly contributes to why people find joy in exercising. Working out is nothing without the right atmosphere, however, this does not mean working out has to be glamorized by thousand dollar gym memberships, or over-priced lululemon leggings you pay an arm and a leg for, but one of the big appeals to working out is having the ability to create a fun environment. A good workout playlist and a sunny space can change the whole experience, and suddenly, running on the spot facing a wall in silence can become something so much more. When you think of camping, it is not necessarily the act of pretending to be homeless, by sleeping outside in man-made, nylon huts, that is fun, but it is the experience of being surrounded by good people, food, and activities you like that is fun. The vibes. Precisely why working out becomes fun. The setting that is associated with exercising, becomes something to look forward to and makes the whole thing that much more fun. As mentioned earlier, working with others may also contribute to making the environment one works out in that much better. Many people fail to recognize that the pleasurable atmosphere created is what attracts people to view working out as fun, rather than the actual act of running or lifting itself.

Adrenaline. Thrill. Bliss. Look at how the truth prevails. Working is more than a chore and has the potential to be fun. Maybe when society as a whole decides that exercise is more than a dreadful chore, can we evolve into something more than complaining, violent beings. Perhaps we can shift our perspective on exercise, and move towards the truth of what it really is; a fun, gratifying pastime that reaps so many mental and physical benefits that can be conformed to the needs of many people’s interests. It may not be the true act of exercising that one yearns for, but the attributes closely associated with it that allow it to be perceived as “fun” And if you still don’t believe me, try fixing your form, or discovering the never-ending variations of workouts you can do, or try training your mind to have a more enthusiastic approach or try re-examining your perception of fun. Either way, it’s important that we the people start to love and accept exercise as an active form of amusement.