Whether you want to avoid the summer heat or you’re just too lazy to make it to the gym a couple times a week, you don’t have to leave the comfort of your home to get a good workout. You can work up just as much of a sweat from doing a few exercises in your living room, then if you were at a luxurious gm facility. All you need is some space, time, and these 9 tips to make it happen:
Have A Workout Room
If you have space, create a designated workout room in your home. That way, you won’t have to set up your weights and equipment every time you want to workout. You can just walk in the room and be ready to go! If you don’t have a ton of room, you can create a workout area. Maybe a section in your living room, or a large corner of your bedroom. Wherever you have room! Having a place you identify working out with will make it more likely you’ll actually workout!
Invest In A Mat
You might not think you need a mat, especially if your workout area has carpet. Don’t be fooled. You still need a mat, probably even more than you would if you were working out at the gym. Your designated workout area most likely wasn’t actually designed for that purpose, so the flooring is probably not ideal. To avoid injury and pain make sure you use a workout mat and invest in the right kind of shoes. Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you should be working out in your pajamas and slippers.
Entertainment Is Key
Having something to do when you workout is key for a lot of people who don’t necessarily enjoy working out. Sometimes, it’s good to be distracted. Creating a playlist that gets you moving or even turning on the television can be a great way to zone out and forget that you’re doing something you hate — working out. Even if you love working out, it’s still a good idea to have at least some music playing to give you some much-needed energy.
Don’t Get Too Hung Up On Time
Every minute counts when you work out! People avoid exercise because they don’t think they have enough time to do so. But in reality, a solid workout can be accomplished in 30, 20, maybe even just 10 minutes. As long as you’re getting your heart rate up and moving your body, you’re working out. Putting in just 10 minutes a day will burn calories and help you lose weight.
Use Everything In Your Home
Pretty much everything you have in your home can be used as workout equipment. Your kitchen chairs can be used for tricep dips, push-ups, squat jumps (if they’re low and sturdy enough, that is). You can hold a wall sit in your home, you can run up and down your steps, you can even use the heavy objects you have lying around as weights for squats or to work your biceps. If you look hard enough you can find solid workout equipment anywhere.
Take Advantage Of Technology
The internet is a beautiful place. You can find anything on there; including workout videos. You can stream dance workouts, cardio workouts, weight lifting workouts, and even ab workouts. And the best part is you don’t have to pay for them! Sure, you might have to purchase the equipment (you should have that anyway) but that’s way cheaper than hiring a personal trainer! Oh, and did I mention Netflix has workout videos as well?! Take advantage of those, too.
Memorize A Few Exercises
Because time is of the essence and it can take a while to find the right exercise video, it’s crucial to have a few moves memorized. That way, if you only have 10 minutes you can crank out some exercises in no time. I recommend knowing a few ab workouts, some leg extensions, and burpees (to get your heart rate up).
Make An Event Out Of It
Working out can be boring, especially when you’re doing pretty much the same exercises over and over again. That’s why it’s so important to switch up your workout regimen every now and then just to keep things fresh. Invite some friends over and workout together or go to their homes. Make working out fun by doing it with more people!
Schedule Your Workouts
Don’t treat workouts like their options. I know there’s no “rule” that you have to do them, but there should be. Similar to how you’d make a doctor’s appointment, make an appointment to workout — and don’t cancel! Getting exercise a few days a week is way more important than you probably realize. Not only is exercise a great way to lose weight but being active keeps you healthy and able to do things like hang out with your friends, wake up for work, etc. The more you exercise, the better you’ll life will be.