With more and more individuals looking to improve their overall physical health and fitness, gyms and other fitness centers have gotten increasingly popular. However, in the hustle and bustle of daily life and the many responsibilities that it comes with, not everyone has the time or energy to look out for themselves in this way.
Whether it’s from the exhaustion at the end of the day or the lack of resources to spare for a monthly membership fee, going to the gym isn’t exactly an accessible option available to everyone, but the good news is that there are more ways to look out for yourself. One great option is to set up your own home gym, which will let you get amazing results in the comfort and convenience of your own space. Here’s how you can start!
Assess Your Space
The first thing that you should do is to take a look around your home and figure out where exactly you’d want your home gym to be. It’s easy to think that a home gym would require an entire dedicated room for it, but it can be something as small as a corner filled with all your workout equipment depending on what you’re looking to attain physically. Whether you decide to put it in your basement or the spare space in your bedroom, it’s important to get creative.
Set Your Fitness Goals
If you already have your fitness goals in mind, then that’s great. If you don’t, then take the time to really think about what you want to get out of your more active lifestyle because this will help you decide what kind of equipment you should focus on getting. Aside from your fitness goals, also consider the kinds of workouts that you genuinely enjoy doing as this can also help you narrow down the equipment that you should be looking for.
For those of you who enjoy cardio workouts, make sure to get machines that are versatile and tailored to your preferred cardio activities such as treadmills, stationary bikes and ellipticals. If you want to build some more muscle mass, then definitely think about getting a weight rack with hand weights of varying sizes, or even a squat rack or a bench press station. You can also look for more versatile things like resistance bands and stability balls.
Look For Bargains and Deals
The whole reason that you decided to start your own home gym is to ditch the hefty monthly membership fees in your local gym, so you probably want your equipment to cost the least amount of money possible without compromising quality and performance. You can do this by checking out online marketplaces, garage sales and even thrift stores for secondhand or discounted equipment.
You’ll actually be surprised at how much money you’ll be able to save by doing this, as opposed to buying directly from sports and athletics stores. When you’re looking to save a bit more, it’s also worth considering other alternatives. If you still haven’t found any good quality cardio equipment, then consider getting other things like jump ropes, or even just going outside and running or walking outdoors.
Make the Most Out of Your Space
Contrary to popular belief, you can absolutely still have a home gym setup despite having a relatively smaller home. All you really need to do is get a little creative and envision your space in a completely different light. Some simple space-saving storage solutions can really help transform your home. Think of wall-mounted racks, hooks and shelves that can keep everything organized and accessible without taking up too much space.
As difficult and costly as it may seem, a home gym is definitely an investment that’ll pay for itself in no time as there are many benefits that come with it. Not only will you be able to exercise confidently without feeling self-conscious of yourself, but you’ll also be able to curate the workout equipment selection to fit your unique fitness goals. You’ll also be able to avoid the inconveniences of the gym such as unsanitary conditions and unavailable equipment.