According to research by Michigan State University, exercising with a ‘virtual partner’ can double the length of your fitness session.
In a study published online in the journal Annals Of Behavioural Medicine, the researchers noted that women taking part in cycling exercises exercised twice as long when working with a virtual partner
The authors suggest these results can be used to help people meet physical activity recommendations.
The researchers split 58 volunteers into three groups. The first group exercised on their own alongside a virtual person, the second group exercised alongside a virtual person but also worked as a team and the third group cycled alone.
Scroll down to find out ways to 'think yourself fit'
At the start, the women in groups one and two were assigned a 'virtually present partner' for the ride and told their partner would be riding at the same time they were, on a similar bike in another lab.
The women 'met their partners via a pre-recorded video-chat and were told their partner's performance was moderately better than their own.
Overall, exercising with a virtually present partner improved performance on the cycling task, and the women cycled longer when working alongside a more capable partner than when exercising alone.
"Being able to more than double one's performance is a substantial gain for those trying to increase their physical activity," study author, Brandon Irwin said in a statement.
"These results are encouraging and suggest the gains we observed over six hour-long sessions could be sustained on a longer-term program of exercise."