Title: Anyone with ADHD struggle with boring workouts?

[momz1]

I can’t stick to long routines at all.
Short, fast sessions like running, skipping or quick HIIT seem to work way better for me.
Does anyone else feel more focused and energised when they move more, or is it just me?

I’m the same. Just exercise little and often

I've never been diagnosed with ADHD (I'm 71) but when I was an adult my Mum said she thought I might be, it wasn't heard of when I was a child. Anyway, I do need to keep moving but hate sports and running or treadmill type machines bore me to death. I prefer going to classes and do 4 a week mostly dance based and love them. The camaraderie with other participants helps I think and there's always enough variation.

You’ve already figured it out. Dance classes work for you, so stick with them. They give you movement, variety, and people around you, that’s exactly what keeps you consistent. Just add a bit of light strength and stretching, and you’re set.

That’s the right approach.Little and often works best. Stay consistent.

I struggle with doing any form of exercise tbh (apart from just walking, as I walk everywhere anyway) as find it all so mind numbingly dull. Even 25 minute HIIT sessions are tedious.

Surely anyone struggles with boring workouts by definition regardless of whether they have ADHD or not.

To me there is no such thing as a non boring workout, that's the point. It's all dull AF.

The only thing I can keep my attention on (just) is reformer pilates.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I’m menopausal so really need to do weights etc but I just find it all so boring, and getting the motivation to get up and do it is so so hard.

i love being outside though so spend a lot of time gardening or walking in the local woods. It’s not enough though. I never get that ‘runner’s high’ or dopamine hit people talk about when they exercise.

I’ve tried every sort of activity - joined a gym, yoga classes, Pilates, exercise class, doing stuff at home with YouTube/Apple Fitness. None of it sticks. Part of this is because I can’t keep to routine but mainly it’s too boring and my mind is thinking about 15 other things, I can’t focus.

I always go for a walk after quickly eating my lunch the three days I go to the office. If I’m walking at home, I’m often stood still listening for woodpeckers so it’s not a hugely active activity!

! know I need to be more active, particularly weights, but don’t know how to get it to stick.

Ah, the joys of ADHD 🤪

Exercise has always been a struggle but I’ve got into a good routine this year and seem to be sticking to it.

I do 20-30 minutes home exercise every morning. If I don’t do it slightly obsessively like this - every day, first thing in the morning and in my own home with fewer excuses to skip it - I won’t do it at all.

I also have to mix it up or I get bored.
I have a YouTube playlist with 20-30 minute videos - dance workouts, HIIT, weights, yoga - and do a different one each day. I repeat ones I like, but often delete ones I’m bored of and add new ones. I decide a week in advance which ones I’ll do that week and stick to it, even if I don’t want to. If you give me a ‘choice’ I’ll just procrastinate and end up doing nothing.

I'm likely audhd.
I've found I have to mix it up. I do a Joe wicks workout then I do a dance workout. It's all different movements and I can easily pick a new one so I don't know what coming. Failing that I stick my headphones on listen to music and dance.

I haven't been diagnosed with ADHD, but find I relate to many of the characteristics. Through a lot of trial and error I have found the exercise I can more or less stick with (with some peaks and troughs) is:

High energy gym classes. Has to be in person, if it's a video I just zone out and realise I haven't been doing it for the last 5 minutes. The fact that other people can see me is a powerful motivator. My gym has quite a punitive system for booking and then not attending classes, which also helps.

Running if I listen to a podcast, but preferably with some sort of interval training rather than just running at steady pace. I also need a plan/goal that means there is some consequence to not doing it (for instance I'm doing my first 10k in two weeks, and ran this morning because I'm scared of looking like an idiot at it)

Swimming - this is the only one that I don't need any kind of enticement/distraction/extrinsic motivation to do. I absolutely adore being in water, it's my happy place, I love everything about it on a sensory level, and I'm a strong swimmer. Unfortunately all the faff around swimming (the showering etc) means it's such a timesuck I don't do it as often as I'd like

I’m the opposite. I need the routine and the structure. Same playlist. 40 minutes cross trainer. Done until tomorrow. Repeat 5 times a week. Results keep me focussed.

I found the only things I've ever done consistently were running and tennis.

With running, once you've started you are locked in, because at the least you have to run back home again from whoever you are.

Tennis I enjoy and it makes you focus because it's all about the yellow ball flying at you and reacting. However I do struggle after maybe an hour, where I feel my brain is really exhausted from focusing and I lose focus.

I'm ok as long as i have a podcast or music on to listen to. I do 4x weights sessions a week of 45min, always with a podcast then some running, always with music. As long.as I am distracting my brain I'm ok

Stop forcing gym-style workouts, pick movement you enjoy like dance or sports.
If it feels dull, you’ll quit, so change the activity.

It all feels dull, I don't enjoy any movement 🤣 I hate dancing and sports.

I think having a lifestyle that enables you to be on your feet a lot, perhaps walking a lot day to day or doing an active job, can be important for wellbeing with ADHD.
It allows you to let off your natural urge to be active outside of intentional exercise.

My brain is easily and quickly pleased - it's just as easily and quickly bored.

for example I love chatting to people and getting to know them and then I just don't want to know anymore. As in I don't follow up to proper friends stage. Isn't that awful?! In my defence I have a very good memory and always ask after whatever they've told me (holiday, pets etc) when I next see them

I have stuck with reformer Pilates for 6 whole months! I think because it's only 50 minutes, a quick 2 min catchup before/after class plus you see benefit pretty much straight away (I go nearly every day)

too bad it's so expensive 😂

I don't think I have adhd but now I'm wondering 😂

My absolute worst nightmare haha

The other class is pilates ✅️

I worked it out a long time ago I've been doing this one way or another for 40 years.

Pilates is a great choice, especially when you’ve already found what keeps you moving consistently.

You’re right, workouts feel boring to most people, but with ADHD the boredom kicks in quicker and makes it much harder to stay consistent.

Try combining weights with your outdoor time. Do simple exercises like squats or lunges while walking or gardening. Keep it light and fun, setting small, easy goals. The key is to make it enjoyable, not a strict routine.

That approach works well! Keep switching things up to keep your mind engaged.

That’s a great approach! Distraction through podcasts or music helps keep your mind engaged, making workouts more enjoyable.