8 Steps to Working Out at Home
8 Steps to Working Out at Home
Feel like a good sweat? Look no further than your own home. While gyms and fitness studios are incredible places to go for a great workout, they aren’t required. Sometimes (if not all the time), the most realistic way for you to workout might be at home. Incorporate exercise into your day in a way that fits your schedule and your goals, whether it’s to improve overall health, boost immunity or increase energy.
Consider these tips for getting in a workout at home.
Schedule exercise. Book workouts on your calendar like you would any other appointment. Set aside time at the beginning of a new week to plan exercise sessions.
Consider what time of day works best for you. There’s no one best time of day to exercise. Some people like to have their workout behind them before they start their day. Others like to exercise during a lunchtime break or relieve stress with an end-of-day workout. Ideally, you will schedule a workout when you have a bit of uninterrupted time, if possible.
Have a plan. Know what you will do in advance so you don’t have to spend time thinking about it when those precious minutes come. You can find plenty of free resources online and also on YouTube. Try out a free trial for an app, tune into virtual studio classes or write out your own program.
Dedicate a space. Even if it’s small, carve out a space in your home dedicated solely to exercise. It will help you get in the zone to move your body.
Utilize household items in a workout. No weights? Use gallons of water, detergent, cans or anything else you can find around the house. Even without any weights, you can still get a great workout in.
Find a buddy. A partner, roommate or child of a certain age may want to join in. Or, find a virtual workout buddy in a friend or colleague. Exercising with someone (even virtually) can help you stay accountable to your goal.
Fuel with a pre-workout snack. If your workout is approaching within about 45 minutes, choose an easily digestible pre-workout snack like a piece of fruit such as an apple. Fruit is made of carbohydrates, which digest faster than other nutrients and provide quick energy.
Get adequate sleep and rest. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. It’s hard to muster up the energy to exercise when fatigued from poor sleep.
