Multitasking can be a good thing. We know it can be hard to carve out time for your workout, so maximizing your efforts is smart. If you can work several muscle groups at once, all the better. Sometimes multitasking is a bad idea though. Today, we have a simple plea — please stop trying to read while you work out.
Staying motivated can be tough during a workout, and any distraction (talking to a friend, music, television) can help you keep going. But unlike music or television, reading directly impacts your workout. Negatively.
Let’s discuss.
If you’re reading during cardio, you’re not working your body hard enough. Can you imagine running at a good pace on a treadmill while also reading? That would be a major challenge. What usually ends up happening is people slowly walk or lethargically pedal while pursuing their book. If your time is valuable, then you’re doing yourself a disservice by not pushing yourself harder during your time commitment at the gym.
Your book is likely causing you to change your form and posture during the exercise. Because you are trying to see small text, you are probably slumped over your book. This may cause you to disengage your core or strain your lower back. Often reading causes people to hold on to the treadmill during their workout. These adaptations cause your exercise to be less effective.
It can be dangerous. Trying to move your eyes through text while in motion combined with bad posture is a recipe for poor balance, which means you could fall off and injure yourself. Would you read while jogging on pavement? Of course not.
Books can’t get you get fired up during a workout. Did you know that music has been shown to help people workout harder? Music can help you pace yourself, can brighten your mood and can help you forget about how hard you’re working. Even TV can be helpful during a workout, if you use a show as a time measurement tool. (Try doing intense bursts during commercial breaks for a fun interval routine).
We do love books, but they’re too difficult to read while working out. We know there are many student athletes out there needing to study and bibliophiles trying to get fit. Looking to absorb some knowledge while sweating the pounds away? Download some books on MP3 files for a safer way to bring your favorite authors into the gym.