9 Tips For Working Out At Home

Want to start working out at home this year?

Tired of the gym routine and costly membership fees?

There are many reasons why you should work out at home. Let’s explore them now.

Introduction: Why Should I Work Out At Home?

Saving money on gym memberships, being able to roll off the couch, and onto your workout mat.

Then, there’s also feeling completely comfortable with whatever is thrown your way. Gyms can also be inconvenient, especially if you are a busy parent or running a business (or both). 

Unfortunately, working out at home does mean you are on your own, and you don’t have the support of a personal trainer or gym instructor on hand.

This shouldn’t stop you from exercising at home or even impact the type of workout you do. Working out at home can be just as effective a method to reach your goals as using a gym, as long as you equip yourself with the right tools and knowledge to get started.

Whether you are new to exercising, or just moving from a gym to home workouts, here are 9 tips to help optimize your workouts at home and stay motivated to move your body. 

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9 Tips For Working Out At Home Starting TODAY!

Think about your why 

Reflecting on the reason why you want to exercise, and why you want to do it at home, can be used as a powerful reminder to help you get up and move your body. Maybe you want to lose weight? Run a marathon? Compete in an event? De-stress after work? Save money? There are a plethora of reasons why you want to exercise. Write it down and stick it somewhere you can see it regularly. 

Map out your goals

Your goals will be linked to your reason for exercising, and will also be a great motivator. Your goals should be something that you can measure, and track your progress. A good and proven technique to use when creating goals is the SMART method, which aims to help you plan and achieve them quickly. Make sure your goals are smart, measurable, attainable, realistic, and within a suitable time frame, for example, you want to lose X lbs in 12 weeks, and you will measure your weight every 4 weeks to ensure you are on track and you can adjust accordingly if needed. Fitness goals do not always have to be weight-based though. Good goals to set can also be performance-based, which could be something like, achieving a certain number of pushups, lifting a certain amount of weight, or running a certain number of miles. 

Create a schedule and stick to it 

One of the best ways to help you exercise at home is to create a workout schedule and stick to it. Consistency is key when it comes to achieving your goals, so be realistic as to when you have the time to work out and block it out in your diary.

While working out at home is much more convenient and efficient, it can also be challenging. It is extremely easy to finish work and just want to sit on the sofa, or snooze the alarm in the morning instead of working out. But working out doesn’t have to be long, even just 30 minutes a few times a week can see amazing results. If you can watch Netflix all evening, you make time to exercise. Exercise should be a priority. 

Find an app or an online personal trainer 

Whether you are a seasoned gym-goer or a complete beginner, working out at home means doing it alone, without the support of gym instructors to guide you or help you with your form. This doesn’t mean you have to struggle. There are plenty of apps, YouTube videos, or online personal trainers that you can use and invest in to help you on your journey. It can be advantageous to get a little extra support when you embark on your home workout journey, to give you purpose, direction, and motivation. It can also help you reach your goals quicker, and progress with your techniques. Many apps offer programs you can follow along, while personal trainers tend to create a personalized program suited to your weight and goals. 

Nutrition 

Nutrition plays a huge role in living a healthy lifestyle and meeting your fitness goals. The right nutrition can also give you the energy to get through your exercises. A diet should consist of good, whole foods that are diverse in nutrients. Not only is it important to consider the right food, but also the right amount of food. If you have some serious goals you want to meet, then it is worth doing the research or speaking to a professional who can provide you with the right advice to meet your goals. Typically, you will need to ensure you are eating more food than the energy you are expending if you want to increase your weight or build muscle, and eat in a caloric deficit if you want to lose weight. 

The best course of action is to speak to a nutrition coach, who will be able to further guide you with food that is suited to you personally, to help you reach your goals quicker.

Create a dedicated space for exercise 

If it is possible for you, it can be beneficial to create a dedicated space for your exercise. This can be in a loft, basement, garage, shed, or spare bedroom. Whatever space you can find in your home, claim it as yours and fill it up with the essentials you need to get a workout done. Even better, create a workout schedule to stick on the wall, and accompany it with your why and your goals. This will help you stay motivated every time you feel like stopping. 

If you are not able to create a dedicated space, see if you can use the same space each time, away from distractions. This will help you build up a good routine and get your mind and body used to it. 

Having a dedicated space in your home helps you to stay consistent, and is easier to store (or keep close by) all your equipment. 

Invest in equipment 

Depending on your budget, there is exercise equipment to suit all goals. If you don’t quite have a budget yet, there are also many no-equipment exercise options for you to choose from. 

Essentials 

A mat, water bottle, and towel are probably the most important items to buy for your home workouts, even if you buy nothing else. These essentials are sure to get you off to a good start. 

Low budget workout equipment options

Resistance bands, fit balls, and small dumbbells are a great option to get you started on your exercise journey. Although they are cheap, they are just as effective when paired with the right exercises and can be used in a variety of ways. 

Higher budget workout equipment options

If you have a higher budget to purchase a few more items, or perhaps are planning to renovate a room and turn it into your own home gym, there are many options available. The kind of equipment you choose will entirely depend on your goals, and which style of workouts you decide to do. You can start with barbells, dumbbells, squat racks, and TRX cables. If you have big goals, you can also invest in high-tech equipment  that will provide you with more information about your workouts, for example, see how many calories you can burn riding a bike or how far you’ve run on a treadmill. If you have a fitness plan from a professional brand, such as Openfit, then you can get trusted advice on which is the best equipment for you. 

Whatever you choose, make sure you do your research and choose the equipment that will help you reach your goals. 

Build a support system 

Just because you choose not to train at a gym, doesn’t mean you should have to go on your journey alone. A support system is an important aspect of any journey, as developing a bond with like-minded people who have similar goals can help motivate you when you are struggling, speak to you about any challenges, and stay accountable. You can see if you have any friends, family members, or neighbors who would be interested in exercising with you, alternatively, you can find people who share your passion on social media using relevant hashtags, or join the community of online apps or Zoom workouts for an extra push. 

Challenge yourself

When working out at home on your own, it can be easy to get tired, feel demotivated or get stuck in a rut. To prevent this, or to work through this feeling if it is something you are experiencing, then why not try to mix things up, challenge yourself and try some new moves. When you challenge yourself, you are challenging both your mind and body, which in turn, will help you build more resilience and introduce movement to different muscles that perhaps you haven’t used in a while. This can help you reach your goals faster. And the best part is, you are at home when you try it, so it doesn’t matter how silly you feel if you are trying something unfamiliar or you are not confident doing it.

Ready To Start Working Out At Home Now?

Working out at home can be just as effective as at the gym, and comes with many benefits. From saving money to saving time, home workouts can help you get fit, happy and healthy, in the convenience of your own home. It can seem daunting at first, but once you equip yourself with the right knowledge, space, and equipment, you’ll be hitting your goals in no time.