Feel like you’re dreading heading to the gym for yet another cardio session? Ready to toss in the towel and call it a day on your workout program?

One of the biggest reasons that many people forgo their workout program is simply because it’s gotten stale. Either it’s not delivering them the results they were looking for or it’s simply not providing enough mental stimulation to keep them coming back for more.

Fortunately, you can change that. There are a number of ways to jumpstart a stale cardio session and get back on track to seeing the results that you desire.

Let’s look at four such ways to get you started.

Add Intervals

Interval training is one of the best ways to kick-start your workout as you’ll not only ramp up your intensity, but your calorie burning as well. Alternate between very intense bouts of exercise lasting 20-45 seconds coupled with rest periods that last about twice as long. Repeat this process for 8-10 intervals and be sure to start with a warm-up and cool-down.

Interval training is the training variation for those looking to burn fat quickly, so if you’re serious about results and not doing this, it’s time to get on board.

Try New Equipment

Another way to jumpstart a stale cardio workout is to change the mode of exercise you’re doing. Constantly running? Switch it up and try biking instead. Not only does this change help you out psychologically to avoid boredom, but it can also help you work muscles you were never working before. This can then lead to superior progress.

Plus, in some cases, cross training like this can also be good for helping to prevent injuries. Especially if the normal form of exercise you do is one that’s high impact in nature (such as running), the change to a non-impact one can give your joints the break they likely need.

Get Away From The Gym

Taking time to get away from the gym every now and then is also a must to avoid becoming stale. Sometimes a change in scenery is all that you need. Rather than hitting the treadmill for yet another session that you don’t want to do, consider getting outside and going for a jog on nearby paths.

Or, if you’re more adventurous, hit a local river or lake for some kayaking or canoeing.

Join A Race

Finally, if all of these fail, help get more motivation and break out of a rut by signing up for a race. You might choose to do a 5KM, a 10 KM, or even a half or full marathon if you’re really ambitious.

Having this race to train for and finding a corresponding program to use to train for it can be a great way to get out of your stale routine and try something new. Plus, it’ll add an extra layer of motivation to getting those sessions in.

So there you have the four ways that can help you become rut-free with your cardio workout routine. A little change is often all it takes to get you back interested in doing your sessions once again.

[Image via Gety]