Getting into the right headspace before a workout can be challenging, primarily when you work from home, exercise, and relax in the same location. It’s easy to become susceptible to a wide variety of excuses when you’re so close to a television set or your computer. With a few tweaks, you can create the perfect ambiance that will excite you to perform a daily workout.
How To Create The Perfect Home Gym
You won’t need a lot of money or time to create a space just for your workouts. Even adding a bouquet of roses beside your squat rack can excite you to bring out the yoga mat and stretch.
Carve Out Your Space
Whether you live in an apartment or a large home, it’s crucial to dedicate a space specifically for working out so you can feel the urge to exercise when you pass your equipment. Choose either a spare bedroom, the garage, the basement, or your living room but, make sure it’s in the same location every single time.
Depending on what your workout routine includes, you may only need a small space for a mat and jumping jacks. You don’t need a full home gym to receive a beneficial workout. In fact, there are plenty of exercises you can perform without equipment and Total Shape is a great resource for these kinds of exercises.
It’s better to choose a location with plenty of light and free-flowing air to help you cool down and energize your body. In an apartment, you may need to prioritize a place that won’t receive too many noise complaints, like a bedroom during the day or a living room at night.
Create an Atmosphere
Seeing the equipment alone may not energize you to work out, especially if you can’t leave your mats or dumbbells out during the day. To start creating the perfect ambiance for your at-home workout, clear your space of clutter so you can move without any distractions. Then, add anything you need to make your small area a happy place to start upping your cardio.
Plenty of workout gurus will place an essential oil diffuser in their workout area and only turn it on before exercising. Having a ritual before doing something uncomfortable can help your body ease into it. We would also suggest putting on motivating music or adding candles.
If you have the space to create a space only dedicated to workouts, put artwork, quotes, or pictures on your walls to help remind you of your goals. Don’t forget to add mirrors so you can watch your form throughout the workout.
Stock Basic Equipment
As mentioned, you don’t need to buy an elliptical, spin bike, treadmill, or any other expensive equipment in your at-home workout space if there isn’t enough room. There are plenty of cost-effective items you can buy to help you reduce the time it takes for weight training.
Interchangeable TRX cables, dumbbells, and yoga mats are multifunctional and are useful in many workout activities. Resistance bands, stability balls, and jump ropes are small items you can use to help improve your cardio workout, plus they’re inexpensive. Invest in only what you need and add more into the space as you start building your exercise habit.
Keep Your Workout Area Clean
It’s challenging to stay motivated when you’re in an unclean place, and an exercise room or area may become dirty solely because you sweat and move around a lot. To clean your workout equipment, just use soap, water, and a microfiber cloth. For your floors and tables, grab the same multi-purpose cleaner you would regularly use.
You may need to purchase a few extra items to help organize your equipment, so get a rack or a shelf that can hold your dumbbells and resistance bands. Keeping your workout area clean can get you in a better mindset and stay motivated throughout your exercise routine.