Most of us like to think we’re free-willed, impulsive and self-governing. Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology beg to differ, however, suggesting we’re creatures of habit, with up to 90% of our daily activities following the usual pattern. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the gym.
You’ll no doubt be familiar with the adage that the only bad workout is the one you didn’t do, but could sticking religiously to your regular routine actually be holding you back when varying your sessions might be the route to maximising your gains?
Here are a few reasons it’s essential not to get stuck in a rut with the same old routine…
Sore points
Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is not just restricted to the wrists of keyboard warriors, but applies in any scenario in which damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves is caused by repetitive movements. Clearly, then, gritting your teeth through the same loaded movements, again and again, is going to eventually take its toll.
Comfort zones
Unfortunately, it’s hard-wired into our DNA to take the path of least resistance in many situations, which is why the human race has lasted so long. In the weights room, this often
