How to Effectively Manage Breaks During a Virtual Workout Session

Let’s face it: Virtual workouts offer a convenient way to exercise without the need to go to a physical gym, but it’s easy to lose focus. You may have good intentions starting a 20-minute video, only to end up distracted by texts, pets, or other interruptions.

Personal trainer Michael Hamlin advises that while a few short breaks during virtual workouts may not greatly affect your overall results, frequent or prolonged interruptions can hinder your progress. Continuous distractions can lead to reduced workout intensity and may prevent you from completing the full session.

When it comes to different types of workouts, hampering a cardio session with breaks can impede your effort to raise your heart rate to a desired level. On the other hand, brief breaks during strength training are generally more acceptable and can even be purposeful to allow for recovery between sets.

To manage distractions during virtual workouts, limit unnecessary notifications on your phone, wear headphones to signal you’re busy, and use breaks to track your progress, hydrate, and focus on your exercises. Instead of getting lost in your phone, try using it to log your workout data for future reference.

Remember, breaks can serve a purpose in your workout routine, especially for managing fatigue and staying motivated during longer sessions. Use longer rest periods strategically to ensure you complete your workouts, even if you don’t meet all your goals on a particular day.