The decision to start a new exercise routine can be downright daunting. Even more so if you’re juggling a full-time job, a family, and all the other time and energy life can demand. But you don’t need to spend a lot on an expensive gym membership or a monthly stationary bike rental to move your fitness needle. Here are a few tips for establishing an effective fitness routine in the comfort of your own home.
Make it a Habit
If you’re looking for long-term success, start with a small commitment to a time of day that’s most likely to be open regularly, and to a set of exercises you can do almost anywhere. Then build this small commitment into your daily routine. For example, every morning and evening before brushing your teeth. Or once a day as soon as you arrive home from work. You’ll quickly create a habit, and your body will crave the activity.
Find a Space in Your Place
Once you’re easing into exercising at home, designate a space where you’ll be able to lay out an exercise mat and store and quickly access your workout gear and technology. If you decide to use a laptop or tablet to guide you, find a way to have it sitting at a level where you can clearly see the instructor. If seeing yourself is helpful in keeping your form in check, you can include a full-length mirror, too. Then customize your new workout haven by painting the room a fun color or post up your favorite motivational quotes.
Get to the Mat
One of the best investments you can make for your home workouts is a quality exercise mat. You’ll use it for doing sit-ups, push-ups, planks, lunges, bridges, and bird dogs, and it’s a great spot to stretch out before and after your workout. Find a mat size that fits your space best, and then look at factors like grip, stability, durability, and comfort. If you plan to take your workouts on the road when you travel, you may want to consider its ability to be rolled up and carried or packed.
Follow the Leader
Sure, you can buy or check out books from your library that help you devise your own workouts. But even better, there are thousands of quality videos online that can help you get started and stay engaged. Yoga, HIIT, strength training, postpartum toning—the selection is almost endless. Spend some time searching YouTube for an instructor you like and a workout that is enjoyable but pushes you, and one that is the right length for your open time window. If you don’t find something you like that’s free, you might investigate some app-based workout systems (like Sweat, BoostCamp, or Peloton) that charge a small subscription fee. Many of these come with fitness tracking features that could be helpful in keeping you motivated.
Invest Wisely
You don't need shiny machines to get a sweaty workout that leaves you feeling strong and sore. At home, you’ll likely be using mostly your own body weight and resistance bands (around $30 for a set), but you could also add a small hand weight set to your arsenal. Costs can get out of hand quickly, so do your homework before splurging to make sure you’re not wasting your money. Consider looking for lightly used fitness equipment on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, too. You'd be surprised at how buying a few pieces of gear to outfit your home gym can make a huge difference in maintaining a fitness routine that makes a real difference.