That said, deciding on a routine is much easier than sticking to one long enough for results to show. Tedium is the main reason a person drops out from a particular activity. One way to stave off boredom is to add variety, such as by varying the type of machines you use, or by simply engaging in different types of cardio activity, such as swimming, running, and biking. This usually leads to aspirations of competing in a triathlon.

Other times, a change of environment can remedy monotony. This is very easy to do when the weather outside is beautiful, and it’s easy to be struck by the absurdity of engaging in a stationary workout indoors. In addition to alleviating tedium, the different surroundings can also help make a workout go by that much more quickly.

If your cardio already takes place outdoors, you might want to make it more interesting for yourself by adding a competitive element to it. Whether it’s a simple 5K run, a varsity biathlon event, or a mountain biking competition, nothing boosts motivation as well as the prospect of winning does. Not only is there a prize at stake, you have a solid goal to aim for, increasing the commitment you dedicate to training, which helps to improve fitness even further.

Whether you workout indoors or outside, the music you listen to (or don’t) can make a difference. Using a different playlist might be enough to keep things fresh, while a person who usually exercises to the sound of silence might find that aural accompaniment will provide company and motivation. You don’t even need to listen to music per se; best-selling writer Neil Gaiman works out listening to audio books, and he mixes it up by walking his now-famous white German shepherds.

Interval training is another way to keep cardio interesting. Basically, you alternate high-intensity bursts with a more relaxed pace. Proponents love it, because you see its effects quickly (increased metabolic rate, quicker fat loss, uses less time), and you don’t need special equipment to carry it out. It could be as simple as asking yourself to speed-walk to the next lamppost, or demanding and structured, like a pyramid workout.

Let’s be serious, for both men and women of college age, looking your physical best is important. Strength training helps to sculpt your muscles, so that you appear fit and healthy.

Keeping a workout routine while in school can be difficult at best; however, the combination of cardio and some easy in-dorm strength training will be enough to help you become fit. You do not need the giant university weight room to get the muscle definition you desire (although it would be good to go when you feel motivated). You will be on your way to tip-top shape in no time if you follow the easy exercises outlined below.

As cheesy as it may sound, march in place. Anything that gets your arms and legs involved is a good way to maintain muscle. Challenge yourself, and see how long you can do it for. Lift your legs high; it’s not as easy as it looks!

Take advantage of the stairs in your building. My building last year had twelve floors, making for a stair runner’s nirvana. Running stairs counts as both cardio and strength training. It is a superb way to build up your leg muscles, and you will even feel the burn in your abs.

There are numerous kinds of squats, and they each have the power to benefit you in different ways. Squats can build up your leg muscles, abs, as well as firm your glutes. Correct form is imperative though.

Jumping jacks are more than just an activity for little kids. Jumping jacks can build muscle on your shoulders, abs, thighs, and calves. Again, challenge yourself. Try to do five more each time.

My grandfather taught me one of the classic ways to build arm muscle if your only workout equipment is a desk. Stand in front of the desk, and place your hands at the edge, lean and do push-ups off the desk. Always remember, your own body weight offers the best natural resistance to build muscle.

Sit-ups, combined with cardio, are a near guarantee to flatten your stomach if done on a regular basis. During study breaks or between classes, do 50 sit-ups.

As Lady Gaga said, “Just Dance.” When it comes to strength training, this could not ring more true. Dancing at a fast pace will count as your cardio, and surprisingly, can be a great strength training tool. Crank up the music in your dorm, and just let loose!

The final tip is to invest in some 10-15 lb. weights to keep in your dorm. Just doing some simple reps with these will give you arm muscles worthy of envy in less than a month. Always remember, no pain, no gain!

Zumba has become more and more popular over the past few years. I had gone from never hearing about it to seeing it advertised all over the place and listening to my friends tell me how much fun it is. Now it’s my turn to give it a try at a local gym. Usually I would not sign up for a gym because I prefer to run outside, but due to my work schedule, I can never run when there is still light and I don’t enjoy running in the dark. Another main reason why I signed up was because group lessons (for classes such as Zumba) were included in the monthly pass.

Zumba is a danced-based fitness routine. It is fun, engaging, and a calorie burning activity! Depending on the class and how much you apply yourself, you can burn anywhere from 400 to 900 calories in just one hour! Most importantly to me,  Zumba makes it easy to stick with a fitness program because you have a great time while exercising. It’s always hard to stick with a fitness program, but you certainly don’t have to force yourself out of your house to go to a Zumba class. The routines and moves consist of a combination of Latin American dances, hip-hop, belly dancing and other dance styles and the goal is experience a full body and cardio workout. The music is what brings it all together. With spicy Latin American sounds and beats, it is hard to stop your toes from tapping and your hips from swaying.

Though the moves can be tough, you just have to try your best and watch the instructor. As you continue to take more classes, you will get used to the moves and you will start to recognize patterns that your instructor uses. If you can, try to vary your instructors. That way, you can truly get the most out of your Zumba experience.

Beside being free, podcasts have the nice feeling of freshness that a lot of workout mixes lack. I often get distracted from my workout when I hear “that song” again; I just need to switch it before I can focus. The beauty of podcasts is you always have a new one, and don’t need to worry about becoming bored with the same old playlist.

Dance or electronica is usually the best choice for a high-intensity workout. With the Beats Per Minute up in the 130-160 range, you’ll be moving quickly the whole way through. I’ve been able to find many great, extended-mix workout tracks through podcast sources, like iTunes or PodCast.net.

If you’re into running or intense aerobics, you should look for PodRunner on iTunes. Each mix is roughly an hour long and is created for varying intensity levels based on BPM. PodRunner’s DJ Steve recently released PodIntervals, another set of mixes designed for aerobic interval training. If you want to work out to some high-spirited songs, look to Radio 538′s Tiesto podcast. With an hour to an hour and a half of high energy, low intensity house music, it will keep you smiling while you move.

Whatever podcast you pick for the gym, listen to an episode or two at home before you bring it with you. Is it something you can listen to for an hour? Will it keep you excited and help you get in your best workout? If it doesn’t make you want to get up and jump around at home, don’t take it to the gym. After all, it doesn’t matter if it’s dance, R&B or classical, as long as it will keep you motivated and moving.