Every now and again we come across one of life's great challenges. It can test us, break us, or turn us in to something better than we were before. More often than not, this challenge comes as a question: To work out, or not to work out?

While you sit on your bed, debating whether or not you're going to actually tie your shoes and drag yourself to the gym, the internal pros and cons list in your head is rapid firing things like "Don't you want to look like that girl you follow on Instagram?" and "But, Netflix..." It seems like you're never going to come up with a solid decision. What if you could go to the gym and barely realize you're there? What if you could block out the working out part of working out? If any of this sounds appealing to you, dear reader, then I might have a few suggestions to make your workout unmemorable.

1. Bring a friend

Working out is so much more enjoyable if you bring a friend along for some casual chit-chat and gossip. If you can maintain a conversation while doing the stair stepper, you'll be surprised at how fast the time goes by! Just make sure you both have the same idea about how intense the workout is going to be. If she gets too in the zone, yank out her headphones! This isn't about her, it's about distracting you from the stair stepper!

2. Netflix

I mean obviously. What better way to be lazy yet still productive than to catch up on the latest season of "Orange is the New Black" while working up a sweat on the elliptical? My only advice with this tactic is don't watch a show that is too funny or too scary, because giggling and screaming to yourself at the gym generally defies classic gym etiquette.

3. Become a gamer.

This is my personal method of choice for boring workouts. Choose one of those time-wasting games on your phone that you usually save for two-hour lecture classes and whip it out at the gym. I personally like to play candy crush, because why not crush some candy while I'm crushing calories? (Don't guess what level I'm on). This works best on a non-jolty workout machine, but if you have really good balance you can pretty much play a game on any machine.

4. Podcasts

This is great for running, especially if you're trying to go long distance but not trying to break any world records for speed. Listening to something that actively makes you think and engage helps to distract you from that horrible, foreboding feeling you have that you need to find the nearest bathroom.

5. Homework

While combining homework with working out many seem like a nightmare, sometimes this is a lazy way to be super productive. If you've got any reading homework, or need to review information for an upcoming exam, this is a good way to make sure you get some work in while also casually working out. You should probably use the stationary bike if your homework is serious.

We already know that you're an expert at avoiding the gym, but why not take your prowess into a more challenging field? Instead of avoiding the gym, try avoiding realizing you're at the gym! I believe you can do it, because I'm doing it right now. (Just kidding, I was playing candy crush--long may it live.)