With another new year upon us, many of us are once again striving to be a little kinder to our bodies by upping our daily amounts of exercise.
But while January is historically a bumper month for gyms, there are still concerns that coronavirus could yet force more gym closures and stop you from maximising your membership benefits.
Thankfully, if Joe Wicks taught us one thing during the pandemic it's that keeping fit from home is not only possible, but fun, convenient and affordable.
Strip out membership fees along with the frustrations of busy peak times and constant battles to use your desired equipment, and it becomes pretty easy to see why an increasing number of us are instead choosing to create our own workout spaces to look after our physical and mental health.
So how do we use our workout space to its maximum potential, and prevent our exercise purchases from collecting dust?
Here’s our guide on how to get the most out of your at-home gym, achieve fitness motivation and reach your goals in the new year.
Choose The Right Equipment
It may sound obvious, but making sure your equipment matches what you want to achieve is an important step for staying motivated.
If it doesn't, it becomes easy to fall into a pattern of feeling like you're exercising for the sake of it with no really aim, and while all exercise is good exercise, this can make it really hard to stay motivated.
Do you have the right equipment for working on your target areas?
Whilst treadmills provide a full body workout, indoor exercise bikes are more gentle on the knees, cater for all fitness levels, and come in a variety of styles and functions, including air bikes & recumbent bikes.
If you want to build strength and muscle mass, power racks, cable crossovers and smith machines should be considered. For the ultimate home gym set-up, a mixture of both cardio and weight training equipment would be ideal.
However, it’s important to consider your space, budget and overall goals.
Keep Your Home Gym Tidy
Keeping your workout space tidy is another important consideration. A cluttered home gym won't just increase risk of injury, it will become a place you're less willing to spend your free-time in.
Your workout space should feel like a safe space where you can relax and unwind. Keep it clean, and you'll find it much easier to maintain motivation.
A big part of this is planning what equipment you'll need before you start making purchases.
Are you looking for compact, foldable machines that thrive in smaller spaces, or multi-purpose equipment that offers full versatility to your home workout?
Considering your workout requirements before you start building your home gym will help you to maximise space by avoiding unnecessary equipment.
Set Achievable, Realistic Goals
Starting off with unattainable goals can often cause burn out before you’ve even begun your fitness journey.
Not hitting those monstrous targets you set yourself will eventually leave you feeling demotivated. So, start small with a 20 minute workout per day and build up from there.
Most importantly, be kind to yourself. Exercise should be an enjoyable process and one you look forward to.
Some workouts will feel better than others, but that's perfectly normal. You're doing amazing things every day both in and out of your gym, so make sure you remind yourself of that.
Keep your workouts interesting
Variation is the spice of life as they say!
There are tons of free online workouts on Youtube to help mix up your gym sessions so you never get bored or tired of the same routines.
They can be tailored to workout your target area, equipment and the available time you have to exercise.
Dumbbells and kettlebells can be worked into any exercise routine and used in a variety of different ways to help tone and grow muscles, while .
Similarly, you'll find a host of bikes and treadmills by NordicTrack and ProForm Fitness that come with free 30-day iFit membership, allowing you to benefit from interactive features including Google maps integration (so you can explore your favourite locations while you exercise) and amazing sessions with world-class personal trainers.
It's also possible to purchase cardio equipment with bluetooth connectivity and built-in-speakers to help you find your rhythm and keep things enjoyable.
Personalise your space
Create a home gym that you enjoy spending time in.
For functionality, install high quality gym flooring, and for that extra touch, a classic mirror wall, TV, sound system or wall decorations.
Anything that puts your stamp on it and inspires that best version of you to turn up to each and every workout session.
Invite a friend
As with anything, workouts are often easier when shared. If you struggle to turn up to a workout session with high energy and motivation, invite a friend to join you.
Scheduling a time and date to workout together helps ensure that your workout actually happens, so make sure to book something into your diary.
Exercising with a peer or family member can be super useful for helping you stay motivated as you are able to praise and encourage each other, as well as just providing a friendly face to chat to.
Research suggests that, along with eating right and staying physically active, nurturing your social circle decreases stress levels, improves immunity, and extends your lifespan, and shared exercise is a great way to achieve this.
Need more help deciding what exercise equipment is best for your home gym? Get in touch with our fitness experts today!