Have you been telling yourself that you’ll start working out only to end up postponing it all over again and never actually DO it? If that’s the case, you aren’t the only one – the truth is that it’s easy to find excuses when it comes to starting a fitness routine – from the couch beckons and not having the perfect pair of leggings to simply not feeling like it. And if you’ve never had a fitness routine.. well, it’s even more challenging to take that first step and implement a habit that will change your life and improve your health considerably.
To get you up and moving, consider the tips below on how to start a fitness routine at home – and really stick to it. All you need is determination and a little patience, and you will gradually begin to work up sweat in no time. And believe us, your mind and body will really be grateful that you’re doing it.
Start small
If you’ve never lifted a weight before, we wouldn’t recommend that you start with high-difficulty exercises. Instead, start small, and remember that any movement is better than no movement at all! Stick to 10 minutes when you go on a walk for exercise or do a workout on YouTube three days a week, as this will help you build a habit (which isn’t easy and won’t likely last if it feels like a burden).
If you tell yourself that you should exercise 30 minutes a day from the beginning, chances are, you won’t stick to the routine, so remember to keep the goal realistic and small, as this will make it more likely to succeed. And as you succeed, you will want to keep showing up to your workout routine.
Put your safety first
When you exercise with a trainer by your side, they can correct you if your form is off or you train in a way that could be harmful, but that’s not the case when you’re exercising at home, and you’re on your own. If you overstress muscle groups or don’t use proper form, you could get injured, so it’s essential to minimize risks as much as possible by dialing in and focusing as much as you would if you were working out under a personal trainer’s eye.
Before beginning an exercise, consider watching a YouTube instructional video from a fitness trainer or, if possible, work with an online trainer who can coach you via video and customize the workouts based on your specific needs.
Also Read: The Top 5 Best Activities For Overall Physical Health And Fitness
Consider equipment
When starting a fitness routine at home, you may be concerned that you need to spend a lot of money on creating a fancy gym, but that’s not the case – you can still get great results even if you have limited funds. However, investing in equipment is a good idea, especially if you’re considering doing cardio exercises such as biking, running, or rowing. In this case, a cardio machine like an exercise bike would be a good investment. Similarly, resistance bands come in handy if you want to train the biceps and back with upper-body pulling movements. The good news is that resistance bands don’t have to be expensive – you can invest in high-quality mini bands, which are comfortable to wear, provide great stretchability, require little space, and are available at a very reasonable price.
When it comes to buying equipment for your home fitness routine, consider if it’s in your budget if you have enough space in your home for it, and if you like using it. If the answer is yes, then definitely buy the equipment. However, suppose the answer is no; consider swapping the equipment with different alternatives to help you achieve your goals. For instance, you can use a heavy jump rope instead of a cardio machine. Similarly, you can swap a kettlebell with a weighted backpack or a yoga block with a shoebox.
Also Read: How Can You Combine Cardio, Strength, and Flexibility for Optimal Fitness?
Balance consistency and novelty
It can be fun to try new workouts – after all, don’t people like trying new things? When you’re working out, you will likely find yourself scrolling YouTube or Instagram for newer, more exciting exercises that will optimize your results and keep things interesting. However, novelty shouldn’t be an obstacle to achieving your fitness goals, whether that’s getting stronger at a specific type of exercise or, enhancing your body composition pursuits, and so on.
The best approach is to balance novelty with consistency – namely, stick to a set of workouts you enjoy and repeat them for four to six weeks. And when you feel like progress slows, choose small progressions such as increasing workout intensity or changing your sets and reps. If you don’t have specific fitness goals, however, you can switch up the exercises as much as you want, even daily.
Make it enjoyable
When you have a fitness routine at home, there are no gym closures or class cancellations that will affect your schedule; however, it may feel tempting to skip the workout because no one will hold you accountable if you do so. While you should definitely leave room for flexibility if there are obstacles or unforeseen conflicts, it’s essential to stay dedicated to your workout plan, and there are a few ways to do that. For instance, choosing exercises you enjoy will make you more likely to stick to your fitness routine.
It’s also imperative to keep distractions to a minimum, tune into your body, and really stay engaged while moving, so be sure that you won’t be disturbed as you work out. Perhaps one of the most important parts of a workout routine is giving yourself time before you start exercising– after all, it won’t be possible to get into workout mode right away after you’ve just finished a household task. So, drink some water, play your favorite energizing songs, and if you feel like you don’t have a lot of energy, have a small pre-workout snack.
Also Read: Top 6 Ways To Make Your Fitness Programs More Fun For Your Clients
The bottom line
Starting a workout routine at home has excellent benefits for your physical and mental health, but it’s essential to set realistic goals and not jump into it full speed. Listen to your body, commit to what’s reasonable for it, and remember not to be hard on yourself if you fall off the wagon – what matters is to get back on it as quickly as you can and continue working towards your goals. Trust the process, keep showing up every day to it, and you’ll gradually start to enjoy a healthier life!
