It can be hard to stay committed to your fitness regimen throughout the year. With August marking the slow advance in to 2017, you’d be forgiven for feeling a slump in motivation. But that doesn’t mean you should give in to those feelings of apathy—far from it! Here are three effective tips to keep you focused and make your trip to the gym more enjoyable.

  • Multitask on the stationary bike

When you’re cycling on the stationary bike, your legs are doing the majority of the work and your hands are free to be nimble. Take this opportunity to multitask. Clear up your inbox, read a book, or, if you’re more of a mobile gamer, open your favorite app and have at it. If you’re looking for something a little different from Pokemon Go, I recommend giving mobile casino games a go Royal Vegas has a great selection. One thing’s for sure: mobile casino games alleviate any boredom from pedaling away on the bike—especially with the variety of games Royal Vegas has on offer (not to mention their handy player welcome bonuses).

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  • Mix things up

Variety is the spice of life, and it’s key to maintaining your interest in working out—not to mention producing results! Your need to give your muscles different stimuli (new movements, different rep schemes, heavier weights, etc.) on a regular basis in order for them to grow and your body to positively adapt to your training program. Moreover, variation in your training regimen keeps things interesting. Think about venturing into the pool, or taking an aerobics, dance or yoga class at your local gym. Trying a new class is also a great idea because you could meet some new friends there too! Have a look at some other cool ideas for varying your workouts here.

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  • Bring a buddy

One sure way to boost your motivation and keep yourself accountable is to team up with a gym buddy. Sure, gym buddies are great for chatting with when stretching, spotting when lifting, and trying paired exercises (such as medball sit-up throws. There are tons of other really novel and fun moves that the both of you can do together.) But their real value lies away from the gym. How? Because you’ll be less likely to cheat on your diet when you know doing so will let your buddy down. You’ll be less likely to hit the snooze button early in the morning when your buddy is expecting you to work out with them. And you’ll be less likely to skip out on your goals when they’re pushing you to be better.