We have 96 intervals of 15 minutes every day, meaning you have many opportunities to make a difference.  Each day this month, I’m giving you a 15-minute project idea. Pick your favorites to improve your day, yourself or your world. I promise you have time for this.

Bored, bored, bored! This was the best description of my running routine last month.  When I’m running, I’m fine.  But getting myself out the door has been difficult lately.  To beat the running boredom blues, I spoke to my exercise instructors for ideas and they both gave me great ideas. I’ve been trying them recently and they’re great and the switch didn’t add much time to my workout or exercise planning. Try these strategies, it will be worth it.

Mix up your workout routine.

I attend 3-4 Core/Bosu/Cardio Sculpt workout classes per week and each class is different, so it keeps me interested.  And now, instead of running 4 times a week, I’ve switched one day to Biking 10 miles on the stationary bike.  It takes the same amount of time and I can look at Pinterest the whole time I’m exercising.  I look forward to this workout every week.

Add in circuit training.

I’ve been running the same route 4 times a week (pretty much) the same way for 2 years.  I could tell you where all of the cracks in the sidewalk are because I’m so familiar with my running route! I have to be realistic, I’m not going to change my route, I do like it.  But I need a change within the route.  So I’ve added a few circuit training options in my run:

• Run 1: 50 Jumping Jacks per walk break (7 times in 5 miles)
• Run 2: Sprints on the short stretch of my run path (8 blocks of 5 miles)
• Run 3: 100 step kicks per walk break (7 times in 5 miles).  You can do this one on a raised sidewalk.  Just act as though you’re stepping up and down, alternating feet. But do it as fast as you can.

Each month, I’m going to change up my options to keep it new, difficult and to keep me interested. Try one of these to really amp up what you’re already doing.

Tip! Learn to be comfortable looking like an idiot.  I’d like to confirm that I know I don’t look glamorous when I’m doing these intervals (especially 1 and 3).  In fact, I feel like that guy you see at the beach with the metal detector–an idiot.  But guess what? I’m noticing results and I’m more excited about running.  So I’m going to keep doing it–comfortable idiot, right here.

New stuff makes you excited.

I’ve steered away from suggesting purchases on this site, because I think that you already own most of what you need to get your home, office, life organized.  But sometimes new stuff is just what it takes.  I love changing seasons and replacing my workout clothes.  I try to purchase the best looking, most functional clothes for my gym workouts.

For runs, I wear my leftovers– but recently decided to make the tank tops above  my extra t-shirts (and as a working on a college campus, I have quite a few). I also purchased some Bondi Band headbands that are amazing.  Face it–running makes your sweaty and you don’t always have a place to clean up.  These headbands take care of that–and they work on the “Jumbo Melon of a Head” that I’ve got–so no headaches! Find something that will encourage you to consistently go to your workouts: new songs for your playlist, new workout shoes or a pedometer and make it a priority to put your new purchase to good use.