When It’s Okay To Multitask While Exercising—And When It’s Not

Im an Exercise PhysiologistHeres Why You Shouldnt Worry About Cortisol Spikes When You Do HIIT Workouts.

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Youll probably want to focus your full attention on your workout to optimize your performance, according to Lumbard.

When you introduce multitasking you start taking away the potential for marginal gains, he says.

woman sweating in the gym

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Heres What Experts Say

Woman walking on a treadmill at the gym.

Obviously, youll want to use caution when youre running on a treadmill, or exercising outdoors.

Its already hard enough that Im not there in-person fixing their form, she says.

Notice how you feel as you do it, and how its impacting your performance, suggests Lumbard.

Full body female athlete in sportswear using rowing machine during fitness workout in gym.

Ho agrees, and gives the example of how listening to podcasts at 1.5 speed makes her run faster.

Everything that your body and brain are ingesting affects the workout, she says.

So thats something to be aware of.

Happy woman dancing and listening to music near a green empty wall outdoor in the city.

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Doing exercise can have great stress management implications, says Lumbard.

But if were getting stressed [multitasking], we counter the positive effects of exercise.

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Healthy female training in the gym, performing a hip thrust.

A young black woman doing post-run stretches in the park on the road amidst green grass and trees.