Most people have had an extended break from the gym due to the pandemic and have gained a little weight. Even though places are opening up, and many are braving their fears and going out, you may still not feel safe going back to the gym. You might also have decided to give working out at home a shot because it is less expensive (no costly gym fees or traveling involved).
Working out at home is a great choice. You get to strain in secret and go at your own pace in a new adventure while still in an environment that feels safe and familiar. Deciding to start a workout routine is the smart choice, which will be made even better if you start on the right note. Keep reading to find out expert ways to get organized as you start your home workout routine.
Select A Suitable Time For Your Workout
Working out is most likely a part of your long-term plans, which is why you need to make it a major part of your routine. Failing to fit the workout into your routine will mean skipping, forgetting, or even running out of time, and soon, the despair of failure even before you have started. Consider slotting your routine early in the morning, making it something you do not want to start your day without completing. If your mornings are hectic, try 20 push-ups and 30 seconds of plank before bed.
Alternatively, give it a time slot in your diary, say, between 6 pm and 7 pm. Soon, you will become accustomed, and before you know it, you will have worked out consistently for many months straight.
Designate Some Space For Your Workout
Get space for your mat in an area with sufficient room and plenty of air for your workout. Here, you can stash a motivational quote, a painting, plus your dumbbells, mats, and other fitness equipment. A designated workout area will set your mind ready for the workout and keep you safe from falls or hitting something.
Find Videos Online From Trusted Fitness Gurus
There is something for everything online; from yoga to stretches, warm-ups, cool-downs, HIIT, weight-lifting, cardio, low-impact workouts, and so many other kinds of workouts. If you are not familiar with working out, YouTube and other video sharing platforms and home workout tip apps have beginner-friendly follow-along videos that you can use to exercise. These platforms also have a home workout plan that requires no equipment but will have you sweating and happy at the end of your exercise routine.
Remember The Elements Of A Healthy Fitness Program
An effective home workout routine must have five components:
- A warm-up
- Cardiovascular or aerobics workout
- Strength-building or resistance workout
- Flexibility motions
- A cool-down
A warm-up will get your heart rate up before you get started and help you avoid injury due to poor form. Here, take a walk outside your house, try a slow pace on a stationary bike, or a bodyweight exercise such as inchworms. Cardio should help you burn fat and raise your heart rate further, so run, jog, jump rope, or attempt jump squats.
For the resistance portion, you will be engaging your muscles to make them stronger, so exercises such as crunches, lunges, push-ups, and tricep dips will be valuable. Flexibility motions include yoga poses and stretches. Finally, your cool-down should stretch your muscles and bring your heart rate down to resting pace to avoid pain after your workout.
Start slowly and aim for 30 minutes of exercise at least three times a week. As mentioned earlier, there are videos online for all these components. If you are short on time, start with a warm-up and end with a cool-down, with home workout exercises that work on more than one muscle group at a time. Examples of these include squats for a home lower body workout with light weights, which work your quads, glutes, hamstrings, and calves. For a home upper body workout, try push-ups, which work your deltoids, biceps, triceps, upper back, and abs while still keeping your heart rate high.
Find A Workout Buddy
If you are afraid that you will quit your home workout program when it starts getting tough, get a workout buddy or someone to keep you accountable. Such a person will encourage you and keep you from breaking unnecessarily. You can also commit to your workout with an online trainer to keep you consistent.
Get Some Workout Gear
Make your exercises more effective by investing in some home workout essentials such as free weights, resistance bands, a mat, and a water bottle. These will not only make your exercises more difficult but also motivate you to keep going (after all, you spent money to support your exercising routine, and quitting would mean a waste of money).
A mat will keep your knees safe, while resistance bands and weights will help you develop stronger muscles. The gear may seem expensive at first, but you will obtain a lifetime of service from it, so save up and obtain the best home gym equipment from trustworthy brands.
Invest In Quality Active Wear
The right apparel will make your home workout more comfortable, and as you begin to notice the changes, you will feel even more motivated. Ensure you get high-quality shoes to protect your joints from the impact of jumping exercises and functional, breathable, and dry-fit gear that allows you to move and stretch comfortably.
Conclusion
If you are the more independent kind of person, wish to workout in private, or just cannot find a gym that meets your needs, you can use the tips above to create an effective home workout routine. Exercising at home, in addition to helping you remain fit, will also help you adopt a healthier lifestyle. Please share additional tips in our comments section.
Thomas Nemel:
The writer is a passionate copywriter who has been involved in sports since his father taught him to love it in childhood. He has a lot of valuable experience that he would like to share with the world. Follow me at my social media:
