Buzz
Every New Year, I vow to enhance my flexibility through regular stretching. Yet, I often find myself skipping parts of my routine—or, more accurately, neglecting my aching muscles for months on end. Whoops.
While stretching isn’t a magical solution, it offers numerous benefits, such as improving mobility, easing muscle soreness, and providing a calming mental escape. My struggle isn’t a lack of motivation but rather staying focused during the process. I find it incredibly dull. Though I don’t have ADHD (officially or self-diagnosed), threads like this one from r/ADHD have encouraged me to tackle my boredom and find ways to stretch for longer than half a minute.
If you’re curious about how to stretch when you despise it or which stretches work best for beginners, we’ve got the answers. Here’s how to power through your stretches without succumbing to boredom.
Watch TV
It’s simple but effective. If you want to stretch more often and for longer durations, nothing beats turning on your favorite series. In my experience, no other mental distraction works as well as immersing yourself in a great show. I’m certain the creators of Succession imagined me working on my quads while engrossed in their world of captivating narcissists.
As long as you don’t get so absorbed in the show that you forget to switch stretching positions, this method makes stretching enjoyable and turns TV time into a productive activity. A true win-win.
Listen to a podcast or audiobook
Similar to watching TV, this strategy relies on finding something engaging enough to distract you and make stretching feel effortless. The advantage of audio-only options is the ability to concentrate more on your body (instead of staring at a screen). Additionally, if you’re at the gym, podcasts or audiobooks might be a better choice than struggling with Netflix on gym wifi. How about some Succession companion pods?
Watch a guided, stretching-specific video
If distractions aren’t working for you, perhaps what you need is a clear, step-by-step guide. Platforms like Yoga With Adriene offer structured routines that might suit your needs. For beginners, having an instructor walk you through each move and provide encouragement can be incredibly beneficial. Just remember to take breaks or modify poses as needed to avoid frustration and keep your stretching routine sustainable.
Make it social
Invite a friend to join you for a stretching session. You don’t need to do the same stretches—in fact, doing different ones might help prevent unnecessary competition. The goal here is to have someone who keeps you accountable and makes the process more enjoyable.
Learn how to count in a new language
Struggling to hold a toe-touch for thirty seconds? Try counting to thirty in Russian. As your brain focuses on mastering this new skill, you’ll completely overlook the tedium of reaching for your toes.
Make mental lists
Similar to counting in a foreign language, challenge yourself to recall all the U.S. presidents, conjugate French verbs, or list sports statistics—anything that keeps your mind engaged.
Rehearse for something
Those fiery debates or speeches you practice in front of the mirror? Bring them into your stretching routine. You’ll be amazed at how quickly time passes when you’re busy dominating imaginary discussions or perfecting your next work presentation.
Incorporate some kind of prop
Consider using a resistance band or experimenting with a tennis ball for rolling out tight muscles. With the tennis ball, you can even turn it into a game, like the one demonstrated in this video, to keep things interesting.
Extra tricks to get stretching in the first place
If your struggle isn’t boredom during stretching but rather maintaining that New Year’s motivation, here are some mental hacks to help you get started:
Combine stretching with other activities, such as brushing your teeth or waiting for your meal to cook.
Dress for success—putting on your yoga pants can serve as a reminder to stretch.
Track your progress with tools like the “1 Second Everyday” app. Just make sure to stretch longer than the time it takes to record yourself.
Lastly, if you’re searching for fresh ways to stretch every muscle group, there’s a chart for that. Wishing everyone a flexible and active 2022.
