It can be easy to ditch the gym and say you’ll workout at home. But it’s another thing to actually put in the effort and stay consistent with a home exercise routine. When you remove the motivation of having paid for your gym membership, it’s easy to press snooze on the alarm, or simply not make time in your day for exercise.
Exercise is good for our physical and mental health. It’s vital that you make it a priority where you can. It can reduce the risk of illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. In addition, it can boost self-esteem and reduce the likelihood of depression, dementia and stress. In addition, take time in your week to do something you enjoy. This may make you feel better prepared to dive back in and tackle everyday life.
So how can you keep yourself on track with your home workouts? Let’s take a look.
Decide if You Need a Daily Plan or a Weekly List
Some people find that a daily exercise routine is the best way for them to meet their goals. Get into the habit of working out at a certain time, such as first thing in the morning. This can be a great way to help you stick to your plans. Research has shown that habits take around two months to form. So, if you’re able to stick to a regular routine, you’ll quickly find that it becomes easier to reach for your sneakers when your alarm goes off. Don’t forget to build rest days into your schedule. This allows your body to recover and reap the benefits of physical activity.
Some people, however, find a daily plan too restrictive, especially if there are other factors to consider, like a varied work schedule or caregiving responsibilities. If this is an issue for you, why not consider a weekly list instead? You can make a note of all the exercises you want to cover, and then check them off as you find time for them during the week. That way, you can create a custom workout suitable for the time and energy that you have that day, rather than always feeling like you’ve done a poor job on the planned session.
Hold Yourself Accountable
If you’re left to your own devices, you may not put in as much effort as you would if you went to an instructor-led class, or to the gym with your friends. Finding a way to hold yourself accountable and setting some clear goals is the best way to get the most out of your exercise at home.
Whether that’s using an app to track your progress, taking part in a fitness program, or simply doing a virtual group class with a friend, sometimes having external accountability can be important to help you commit to exercise.
Don’t be Afraid to Ditch the Sit-ups
The best exercise sessions are the ones that are fun. Not only will you feel more motivated to get started, you’ll also try harder in the workout. If you don’t enjoy doing it, there’s no need to stick with traditional exercises like sit-ups.
Instead, why not accept being at home and get involved with an online yoga or mobility class, or even a virtual reality activity? The most important thing is getting started and experimenting with different options. You may need to add in specific exercises if you want to hit certain fitness goals. If your aim is to increase your general fitness level, it’s more important that you find an activity that you’ll stick with.
Keep Your Equipment Easily Accessible
Finally, you can make it easier to exercise by making your equipment easily accessible and visually appealing. Having to pull your weights or yoga mat out from an area full of household items is one more step to take. When you’re feeling unmotivated, this can easily become an excuse. Instead, keep your items in an accessible location. They don’t need to be on show, but be able to get them out quickly. Having easy access, might make the difference between you completing a workout or not.
Stay Strong Together
Join the more than eleven million members who’ve had great success using the Jefit app. The award-winning app comes equipped with an advanced, customizable workout planner. There is also a training log, the ability to track data and share workouts with friends. Take advantage of Jefits huge exercise database for your strength workouts. Visit our members-only Facebook group. Connect with like-minded people, share tips, and advice to help get closer to reaching your fitness goals.
