Do you suffer from exercise FOMO?

We’re making it official – you can suffer from exercise FOMO (fear of missing out). Have you ever been working away, feeling envious because your friend has messaged to say they’re off to the gym? Some people enjoy their regular workout so much that it’s painful to have it wrenched away from them. When you have to cancel your own gym session and you know other people are enjoying theirs, it’s not a pleasant feeling.

Desperate to get active?

We’re all creatures of habit, and when you’ve factored a workout into your routine, missing out on it can leave you on edge. That’s because it’s become so much a part of your daily life, that not having it seems to throw you on both a physical and mental level.

It’s especially hard when someone invites you along to the gym and you have to turn them down. Knowing they’re getting their exercise for the day can grate, if you’re consumed by a sedentary work task or some mundane job about the house which can’t be put off.

How to overcome FOMO

The truth is we don’t actually need to work out every day, but for some of us it’s the daily escapism. If you can’t get your workout in and feel you’re missing out, then try to find tactics to distract yourself. You can burn off energy in other ways. Even small chair-based exercises are better than nothing, when you’re tied to your desk.

If you’re worried you’ll lose focus because of the distraction, take a ten minute break to have your own ‘mini workout’ – squats, a brisk walk, lifting some weights, whatever you choose to do to take your mind of wanting to be down the gym with everyone else.

MVP runs workplace-based fitness programmes, designed to get your employees active during the day. For more information, simply get in touch.