Bree-Anna Burick Jul 11, 2024 8 min read

How to Build Your Home Fitness Routine

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Getting in shape is a noble goal. Whether you’re wanting to look better or you’re trying to improve your health, being more active is a great thing.

However, there are some misconceptions about working out that often hold people back, the first of which says that you need to be ready to commit to going to the gym.

There are plenty of reasons for people to be reluctant about going to the gym.

First of all, you may not feel like the cost of a gym membership is worth it because you don’t have time to commit to going multiple times each week.

This is especially true if you don’t have a gym that’s close to you. You’re probably already busy enough, and the idea of dealing with a commute to and from the gym just doesn’t fit into your schedule.

Additionally, some people have some issues with working out in public, and there’s nothing wrong with that. When you walk into a gym, you may find people who are much farther along in their fitness journey which can leave you feeling insecure about where you’re at on yours.

Fortunately, if you’ve ever wondered how to work out without going to the gym, there are plenty of steps that you can take.

Working out at home can provide just as many benefits as going to the gym. However, it’s important that you know how to build your home fitness routine. If you’re ready to get active and improve your health, these tips for working out at home are a great place to start.

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Have a Designated Workout Area

The first part of establishing your home fitness routine is to have a designated area where you’re going to work out. Ideally, you won’t use this space for things like watching TV, reading, or sleeping.

If you live in an apartment, you may not have any other choice but to convert a room into a multi-purpose state, but even if that’s the case, try to designate an area of the room for your workout equipment.

This tip is all about training your brain to associate an area of your home with personal fitness. When you get used to being active in a certain space, your brain will respond when you get into that area.

This is also an important tip because it helps you keep any equipment that you want to use together instead of having your home exercise equipment all over your home.

Set a Schedule

Your home exercise schedule doesn’t only include the workouts that you’re going to perform every day. We’ll get more into that in a moment.

Instead, this tip means that you decide when you’re going to work out every day. This will help you keep yourself accountable.

Since you’re working out at home instead of going to a gym, you won’t have to deal with gym hours or travel time, which puts you in complete control of your workout routine.

If you’re a morning person, you may want to get up and get your workout in before you start your day.

If you struggle to get in gear first thing in the morning, you can set up your workout for the evening when you get home. Whatever schedule you choose, make sure it’s something that you can commit to.

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Get the Right Equipment

Your home fitness routine is much more likely to succeed if you have access to the equipment that you need.

Much like the first tip, this one largely depends on how much available space you have. However, it’s good to know that you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on equipment to build a home gym unless that’s just something that you want to do.

Many people turn unused basement spaces or garages into home gyms filled with all the equipment they could ever imagine needing. If you have the financial ability to do that, you certainly can.

If you don’t have enough space or money to build a full gym in your house, you can still succeed. Invest in some dumbbells for weight training.

Remember, you don’t have to purchase every different dumbbell. Start with one or two different weights and then go from there. You can also get resistance bands, balance disks, and other items that don’t take up much space while still providing plenty of fitness benefits.

If you have the space, consider adding a treadmill, elliptical, or stationary bike to your home fitness area. These items allow you to get regular cardio in.

If you don’t have space for those items or they’re just not in the budget right now, going outside to walk or jog is a great way to work out without going to the gym.

Think Outside the Box

Every type of workout doesn’t require the use of equipment. There are plenty of exercises that you can do that get you in better shape without weights, treadmills, stability balls, or anything else.

Something as simple as doing a few sets of lunges with some planks in between sets can help you work your lower body and your core.

Spend some time online looking for safe workouts that you can implement that don’t require the use of any equipment. Not only does this allow you to work different muscle groups, but it also helps you keep your exercise routine varied, which will make it easier for you to stay engaged.

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Rotate Your Workouts

If you were going to go to the gym, you probably wouldn’t focus on the same muscle group every day. The same should be true of your home exercise routine.

In addition to scheduling a daily routine that keeps you accountable, have a written plan that covers which part of your body you’re going to work on each day.

It’s certainly a good idea to do some cardio exercises every day, but doctors and other experts agree that if you can get five days of cardio workouts in each week, you’ll improve your heart health.

Outside of cardiovascular-focused workouts, it’s usually not a good idea to work the same body parts every day.

For instance, if you want to build bigger biceps, commit to weight-lifting exercises that focus on your arms and chest on Mondays and Fridays.

You can then do core exercises on Tuesdays and Thursdays while focusing on your legs and glutes on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The details of your workout routine are completely up to you.

Focus on Progress, Not Perfection

When you start your fitness journey, you probably have a goal in mind. That goal may be a number on the scale, fitting into an outfit that you haven’t been able to wear for a while, or you may have a look that you’re going for.

Goals are important. In fact, most personal trainers agree that if you don’t start your workout routine with a goal, you’re much less likely to stick with it.

However, it’s important to remember that your fitness journey is a sprint, not a marathon. Also, progress isn’t linear.

Along the way, you’re likely to experience some setbacks and some plateaus. When you remember that you’re focusing on progress instead of perfection, you can stay engaged and remember that every day brings about a better, healthier version of yourself.

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Get Started Today

Have you been procrastinating the start of your fitness journey?

Maybe you’ve said that you’ll start it next week or next month. Perhaps you’re waiting for things to get calm at work so you have more time.

Instead of putting it off for another day, get started now. Even if you don’t have any exercise equipment on hand, you can do some crunches or planks now.

Let today be the first day of your quest toward better health.

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