Exercise is an essential part of everyone’s day-to-day life. Some can get by with their daily walking and activity, but others want to do more and exercise in gyms. For many, the gym is a wonderful place to go and put in this work. However, many others would prefer to have this gym in their home, as it’s easier to integrate exercise into their schedule. Read on to learn tips for making your home gym work for you.
If you have kids or a busy schedule, a modest home gym is the best investment you can make in yourself. You’ll save time on a commute to the gym, which will make it easier to show up everyday to do the work needed to become and stay fit.
Consider Your Needs
What are you seeking out of your gym—do you want to bulk up and put on some muscle, or do you want something that helps you stay flexible and lean? Both typically require a gym and exercise, but you achieve them through incredibly different means.
Before creating your gym, you need to evaluate what sort of exercises you want to do and get the essential equipment you need. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with the massive amount of gear that exists, so search for the exercises and equipment you need right away, and then you can look into additional gear later.
Invest in Cardio Equipment
For many, cardio isn’t at the forefront of their exercise goals, or they may choose to get their cardio done by running outside or playing sports. Unfortunately, this solution doesn’t always work as there will always be bad weather to ruin the day, or you may not be in the mood to go outside.
Instead, invest in an exercise bike, but also invest in some entertainment. The failure to stay mentally stimulated is a big bike riding mistake that people make, and they get so bored that they stop riding after only 10 minutes. A show, movie, sports game, playlist, or podcast is enough to get you over that boredom hurdle and easily help you get in over an hour of cardio daily.
Resistance Training Basics
If your goal is to get stronger or build muscle, you only need a few basics for your home gym. Remember, body weight training is a great tool for most. A door pull-up bar and gymnastics rings are all you need to work all your major muscle groups.
If you are not able to perform 8 pull-ups, 30 pushups (perfect form), or 50 bodyweight squats in a row, it’s best to focus on hitting these bodyweight standards before worrying about lifting weights.
At the next level, an adjustable bench and dumbbells will give almost everyone the tools they need to reach their fitness goals (unless you’re a powerlifter). The list below is a great, affordable start for most people:
- Door pull-up bar
- Gymnastics rings
- Bands
- Dip station
- Adjustable bench
- Adjustable dumbbells
Invest in Quality Equipment
On top of finding the right equipment to meet your specific workout needs, you must also invest in high-quality equipment. To get the best workouts and have a machine that works for years, you need to ignore the price tag.
Some machines may look appealing because they are cheaper and will likely do the job well. However, these are much less durable, and the cost of repairs and replacements can end up costing more than a more expensive piece of equipment would. Still, invest in equipment you know you will use—if you’re not sure, go to a gym to test it out and see if it fits your routine.
These tips for making your home gym work for you will help you create the perfect gym, but at the end of the day, you’ll still need to get up and put the work in. These customizations will help make it easier for you, but putting in the hours and getting the exercise will never be easy. With that said, once you make it a regular habit, it will turn into something you don’t even have to think about.