Why Do People Give Up On Lap Swimming?

Swimming is a fantastic form of exercise with numerous physical and mental health benefits. Many people love the idea of becoming a regular lap swimmer and may even go as far as buying new swimwear, goggles and other equipment but, after a couple of weeks, their efforts start to peter off. This can be frustrating (and expensive) and unfortunately the idea can gradually get pushed into the "too hard" basket. Let's look at some of the reasons people struggle to keep up a regular swimming routine and explore how to get past these roadblocks and become a swimming success story. For the purposes of this article, we will assume that you have a pool reasonably close by that you can access regularly.

Swimming Skills: Some people may not have very strong swimming skills. This lack of confidence in their perceived ability can discourage them from swimming regularly.

The best way to overcome this is to commit to improving your swimming skills. This may include such strategies as reading books about swimming such as Adults Guide To Better Swimming, it could also involve watching YouTube videos about improving your swimming strokes or, enrolling in a stroke analysis workshop to get a better understanding of where you need to improve.

Time-Consuming: Swimming is often seen as time-consuming compared to other forms of exercise. Getting changed, showered, and drying off after a swim can add extra time to a workout routine. You also often have to drive there and back.

Like anything you need to create a system that lets you achieve what you want without wasting time. Firstly, accept that in order to swim you will probably need to drive (lucky you if you don't).  You could use travel time to listen to a podcast or make phone calls (if you have hands free). Build that into your swim time allocation. While getting changed and showered can seem like it takes a long time, it really doesn't have to. Being organised with all the gear you need will help with this as well as being efficient. Heading straight to the showers after you get out of the water and not spending too long under the hot water will speed this process up. Also consider that showering at the pool means you don't have to do it at home, saving yourself some time there. A good tip is to have a set of toiletries that you leave in your swimming bag, saving you the hassle of gathering those things up from home each time you swim.

Cost: Access to a pool may come with a membership fee or a cost per visit, which can be a financial burden for some people.

Most pools have different passes available and generally the more often you swim, the cheaper each visit is. Buying monthly or even yearly passes can drop this cost considerably if you are prepared to outlay the money up front. Check if there are sales or other incentives where you can save on passes (or check if your local council or health fund offer any subsidy). Although some people are not big fans of direct debit payments, this can often work out to be the cheapest option and worth considering. Perhaps you could ask family members to put money towards a membership for a birthday or Christmas gift.

Boredom: Swimming laps in a pool can seem monotonous for some people. They may get bored with the repetitiveness of the activity and seek more variety in their workouts.

Explore ways to vary your swimming routine. Rather than getting in and swimming 20 laps continuously look at ways to break this down into different distances and combinations of skills. Get Swimming's Couch to 1k course includes a variety of different workouts.

Seasonal Limitations: For outdoor pool swimmers, weather can be a limiting factor. Cold temperatures or inclement weather can make outdoor swimming impractical for some of the year.

If you live somewhere cold there will almost certainly be an indoor pool nearby. Even locations with a relatively warm climate will heat the outdoor pool during winter allowing you to continue swimming. Swimming during winter can be a mental game, but, like anything, if you establish a routine and stick with it the colder weather does not need to interrupt your swimming progress. The upside of winter swimming is that pools can be much less busy, allowing you better lane space and no parking hassles. A final tip is to rug up well before and after your swim, which makes the whole experience much more pleasant.

Inconvenience: Swimmers need to carry swim gear, including swimwear, goggles, and towels, which can be inconvenient to transport regularly.

Get yourself a mesh swimming equipment bag to keep your goggles, kickboard, pool buoy and fins in and keep it in your car. Leaving it there will eliminate the hassle of taking it in and out and remembering to do so. For your swimwear, cap, towel and toiletries, once again get yourself a designated bag that you keep packed and ready to go. Consider having more than one swimsuit and towel which will allow you to dry out one set, while packing your dry set into your bag ready to go the next time.

Lack of Social Interaction: Swimming can be a solitary activity, and some people prefer exercise routines that allow for more social interaction or group participation.

See if you can buddy up with a friend(s) who would also like to become a regular swimmer. You could also join a swimming squad or group. These do not have to be competitive, but will help you keep on track and meet other people to enjoy your workout with. Check the different squads that your local pool has available, you may be surprised what is on offer even if you are a beginner.

Perceived Lack of Progress: Swimming is a sport that can take a while to start to see progress, especially if you haven't swum before or it's been a long time since you have been in the water.

You just have to hang in there during those first few weeks when every lap feels exhausting and it seems like every other person in the pool is zooming past you (especially kids!). Set yourself a target for each workout and gradually increase this as you get fitter. Give yourself at least a month to become accustomed to swimming laps and then start setting some goals. Like any sport, you need to put in the practice to see progress. Continued smaller efforts will build and you will start to see improvement. You might also consider starting in a smaller pool as one lap of a 50m pool can seem very daunting on your first session. Starting smaller will allow you to achieve more laps and rest more often. Use your smart watch to track your laps and times and chart your progress or, if you are old school, note how many laps you have done each session. You can track your times with the pace clock at at the pool. If you are struggling to get beyond those first few weeks, Get Swimming's Couch to 1k program is a progressive eight week program that gradually builds distance and fitness with structured workouts.

Ultimately you will have to motivate yourself to keep up swimming regularly, but if you set your intentions and build a swim (including travel time) into your routine it does not have to be difficult to keep it up. As mentioned, being organised with your gear will go a long way towards keeping you on track and purchasing a pass that is more economical is also helpful. See if you can get some friends to come along as well, as this will also make you more likely to stick with it. Finally, see going for a regular swim as an enjoyable activity rather than a chore and your whole mindset and motivation will change.