Training as Play: Shift Your Mindset to Build Lasting Fitness Habits

“This is the real secret of life—to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work; realise it is play.”

— Alan Watts 

The Artificial Division Between Work and Play 

Alan Watts, the British philosopher, explored the artificial division between work and play. He observed that, in our culture, work is often seen as the “serious business” of productivity and survival, while play is dismissed as trivial or unimportant. Watts noted that this divide is more of a perspective than a reality, and that when work is approached as a form of play, individuals can experience greater flow and effectiveness in the same task. The effort and attention are still there, but the approach of a ‘forced seriousness’ is put aside.

This idea also applies to building a sustainable training mindset, where the focus shifts from obligation to curiosity, making space for more consistent and enjoyable practice.

Discipline vs Motivation: Why Training Sometimes Feels Like Work

For many, training falls apart when it becomes attached to guilt or a sense of drudgery. Eventually attendance drops and the feelings are familiar: lethargy, disappointment, and the nagging thought, “I want to do this. I know I should do this. But I’m not.” Beneath this often lies a deeper question: “What’s the point?”.

Too often, people fall off track because training feels like something they should do rather than something they get to do. This is where training becomes less of a personal project and more of a type of ‘work’. It becomes less clear why we are doing it, and the system gradually falls apart.

This is also where the question of discipline vs motivation becomes important. Relying on short bursts of motivation can carry you for a while, but without clarity and purpose, that energy runs out. Discipline, on the other hand, is rooted in structure and intention. But even discipline can feel heavy if it's not paired with meaning.

The truth is that you absolutely do not have to train. When training becomes less of a personal exploration and more of a task to check off, it starts to resemble ‘work’ in the dullest sense. The truth is, you absolutely do not have to train.

Despite every valid, objective reason for health and wellbeing, physical training is an entirely optional pursuit, one that I suggest be approached as a sophisticated form of play.

Training as Serious Play: How to Stay Consistent with Working Out

When we think of play, we often imagine something casual or light-hearted. But play, at its best, is deliberate, disciplined, and purposeful. Consider musicians, actors, or athletes: their “play” is intense, focused, and deeply rewarding. No one watches an Olympic competition or a moving performance with indifference. Yet, we know these are games and performances, the best of which we get lost in.

This concept is about shifting the emotional background to training. This is something you choose to make part of your life, a form of gamesmanship based on developing your physicality, skill, and routines of nutrition, sleep, and relaxation. Reframing training in this way can also help answer a common challenge—how to stay consistent with working out without feeling burned out or burdened.

This shift in mindset does not mean training becomes casual or easy. There will still be days when getting to the gym feels challenging. But choosing to play—rather than forcing yourself to work—can mean training can become less serious, but more sincere. And sincerity, when paired with purpose, creates a powerful motivation.

Key Takeaways: How to Stay Consistent with Working Out

• Shift your mindset: Training doesn’t have to feel like work. Reframe it as a form of serious play to make it more engaging and sustainable.

• Focus on discipline over motivation: Motivation comes and goes. Building discipline helps you stay consistent even on low-energy days.

• Play with purpose: Like musicians or athletes, the best training blends intensity with enjoyment. Choose movements and goals that feel meaningful to you.

• Let go of guilt: You don’t have to train—you get to. Approaching training as a choice rather than a chore improves long-term consistency.

• Build a supportive routine: Sustainable training includes more than workouts. Prioritize recovery, sleep, nutrition, and flexibility in your schedule.

Open Questions

1. If you didn’t have to train, but simply chose to, how would that shift your relationship with training and consistency?

2. What’s one skill or movement you’d love to explore in your training, simply for the joy of mastering it?

Start Training with Purpose and Play

If you're ready to move beyond guilt-driven workouts and build a consistent training mindset, Riverside Gym’s remote coaching app is here to guide you.

Learn how to stay consistent with working out by following structured programs designed to feel purposeful, flexible, and sustainable. Our coaching system helps you build discipline, track progress, and stay engaged without falling into burnout or routine fatigue.

Start your training today and rediscover what it means to move with intention.

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