Reading is a great way to take your mind off the workout. Save the morning paper until your workout, or subscribe to a great magazine like Oxygen , and only read it when you are working out. You'll be amazed how much you look forward to your workout when you know what you are going to get done while you are exercising. I don't have a lot of free time, so I get my reading in when I'm working out. Some people like to listen to audio books, so they don't have to worry about sweat on the pages of their reading material.
Conversation is another great way to pass the time.
Chances are you'll be so into the conversation that you have to work out longer to get all the inside info. Exercise really gets the creative juices flowing for some people, so you have to be ready for inspiration to strike at any time. I keep a notebook handy, so I can write down ideas and thoughts. It's possible, on certain pieces of equipment, to supplement your workout. For example, when you are riding on the exercise bike, you can use light dumbbells to add an upper body strengthening aspect to your workout.