If you want to make your workouts more effective, consider a workout partner. A study from Michigan State suggests that the best approach to developing a longer, better workout may be exercising with a partner who is stronger than you. Most people don’t meet the goal of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per week. But when paired with a partner, study participants exercised 200 percent longer than those without partners.
It is recommended to spend time in the company of those who practice habits that you wish to emulate. Exercising with a friend is a good way to maintain a commitment to a regular workout, and exercising with someone who is a bit more fit than you are may motivate you to ask more of yourself, as did the students in this study.
While it’s good to be a bit uncomfortable with a routine that requires effort, and your workout should challenge you, be careful of injury – competition can be a powerful motivator, but a competitive spirit shouldn’t override your body’s signals that you’re overdoing it.
