Ways To Have Fun Alone In The Swimming Pool
While we don’t recommend that people swim completely alone, there may be times when you simply want to swim laps and if you’re in the pool alone, and if you have a friend or family member close by in case of an emergency, you can enjoy swimming laps and the peace of a solo swim.
Some people swim for fun, others swim to get in shape or stay in shape. Just as with any workout you need to be consistent and you will want to “work up a sweat” even though you won’t sweat in the pool! If you’re really looking at your swimming pool as a place in which to get in, and stay in, shape, you will want to be regimented in your swimming pool workout times and routine – just as you would if you went to the gym for a workout.
Let’s face it, even though being in a swimming pool is more than a little enjoyable, if you’re using your pool as a workout space, you may need to do a few pep talks to keep you motivated and reaching toward your goals.
Here are some ways to make your solo swim workout rewarding and something you look forward to:
Jump right in. Don’t dip your toes into the pool and wander around and try and talk yourself out of your routine. Walk up to the pool with purpose and jump right in. When you hesitate, it’s easy to talk yourself out of working out, right?
Write down a routine. If you know what you’re going to do, which muscle groups you’re going to focus on and what you want to accomplish before you get in the water, it will make it easier to stick with it. Writing down your routine and then performing the physical act of crossing off your swim workout routine is very satisfying and you can also track your progress when you write it down.
Add a soundtrack. If you love music, bring your smartphone and find your favorite music station and play while you’re swimming. If you want to pump yourself up, listen to heart-pumping music before you swim.
Don’t get stuck in a routine. Yes, you want to have a routine for your workout, but don’t get stuck in a rut with swimming the same laps, strokes and speeds in the same order every time. Use pool exercise equipment, switch up the swim strokes you use, keep it interesting and keep yourself interested!
Know why you’re swimming. Do you have a goal you’re shooting for? To lose a specific number of pounds? To get in shape for a triathalon? Do you want to get your heart healthier? Did you simply commit to yourself that you would be up and active and moving more regularly than you have in the past? Working toward a goal will keep you motivated.
Make friends. If you swim at a public pool, make friends with others who are swimming when you’re there. Having a friend, especially one who may want to join you in your workout routine may make you work harder and swim faster. Also, knowing you will see a friendly face when you go to the pool may keep you more motivated to keep up with your swimming routine.
Practice positivity. If you’re swimming alone, you are responsible for your own positive self talk. Choose a mantra and use it when you feel yourself slowing down or losing your motivation.
Talk to a friend. Even if you swim alone, it’s still nice to go home and have someone to share the highlight of your day with. Talk to a friend or family member, call someone, get on a facetime chat and discuss your wins! If you’re in training for a specific athletic event, it helps keep you motivated to talk with someone who understands what that’s like. Commiserate the hard days, celebrate the wins!
Be patient with yourself. If you’re just starting out, keep in mind that you don’t want to write down your routine to include “swim 50 laps” on your first day. Work your way up to 50 laps, if that’s your goal. Don’t get so ambitious on your first outing that you burn out.
Remember why you’re there. You could have chosen any kind of workout, but you choose swimming. Why? Probably because you love it. Remind yourself of that when you are struggling to want to follow through with your workout on any given day.
Challenge yourself. If you swam three laps yesterday, challenge yourself to swim four today. If you participated in a water aerobics class for 15 minutes yesterday, work up to 20 or 30 minutes today. Push yourself a little bit extra every time and you will see results!
Treat yourself. If you have a killer workout, reward yourself. Enjoy a healthy, delicious smoothie. Give yourself a pat on the back. Brag about what you’ve done on social media. If today is the first swim workout you’ve ever had, congratulations! You’re on your way. Remind yourself of that!
Again, we urge people to never swim alone, but if you’re in the pool by yourself, make sure someone knows and make sure they know when to expect you back. Better yet, have them come hang out poolside while you’re in the pool. Having someone watching you work out in the pool just may make you work a little bit harder!