With gyms and workout studios being a bonafide hotbed for the spread of germs, it comes as a surprise to no one that home workouts have blossomed into the biggest exercise trend of 2020. And we’ve come a long way since the days of simple dumbbells and jump ropes. From ultra-elaborate and high-tech stationary bikes to local studios streaming daily sessions, there are so many unique ways to sweat from home these days.
While many of us have carved out space in the living room, bedroom or home office for a makeshift gym, it’s common to find it hard to stay motivated and follow a set routine. In exchange for the high cost of a gym membership and the annoying commute, we’ve sacrificed the uniquely motivating experience of a group exercise environment. But don’t worry, because there are a few easy ways to keep the drive alive, even from home. Here are a few tips.
- Snooze: Get a Good Night’s Rest — We’re all so far off our normal routines that, by now, having less of a routine is the routine itself. While the times you work, socialize, exercise and eat may be all over the place, make sure to keep one thing consistent: sleep. Getting a good night’s rest bolsters motivation and keeps you highly energized so you can tackle tomorrow with ease. We recommend trying CBD products for sleep so you can wind down when you need to wind down and stay on a good snooze routine no matter what.
- Go Live: Join Exercise Livestreams — Research tells us that having a workout buddy or exercising in a group can be a massive motivator. In fact, in one study, 95 percent of participants who joined a weight loss program with their friends completed the program. But buddying up in-person is not the most feasible or practical option right now. Enter the livestream! Plenty of local studios, YouTube channels and gyms have created super-engaging livestream workouts that make you feel like you’re a part of a group when you’re actually sweating solo.
- Shake It Up: Try a New Workout Style — It’s totally normal to occasionally feel like you’re stuck in an exercise rut, especially if you’ve been following roughly the same formula for a long time. At home, you’re less likely to feel that ever-common rush of workout shame or like your time is being wasted, so why not take a stab at a few new workout styles? Hip-hop dancing, yoga, Pilates, Zumba, barre, weightlifting, running, belly dancing, hula-hooping, ribbon dancing — try ’em all!
- Recover: Make the Most of Rest Days — People who have a tendency to over-exercise or obsess about their workout regimen are at a higher risk when the gym is only a few steps away. But it’s important to build in rest days where you give your body a break and allow it to recover. Use muscle recovery products, like a CBD tincture or topical, and be sure to eat nutritious, protein-rich foods during off days. Well-spent rest days can help you stay on track and restore the muscles so you’re even more apt to push yourself further the next day.
- Refresh: Sweat in the Fresh Air — Sometimes, a change of scenery is all you need to put a little pep back into your step. Whether it be yoga on the front porch, Pilates in the backyard or a jog in a new park, switching things up can breathe some new life into your fitness routine. If you’re a runner, walker or cycler, expand your area of routes and try to find new trails or paths to try at least once a week. This will help keep your routine challenging and fresh.
- Enhance: Use Your HD TV — Still working out with your smartphone propped up against a wall? Dial up the definition and put the stream on a big-screen TV. If you don’t have a smart TV, you can turn your regular TV into a smart TV with relatively affordable devices like Apple TV, Amazon Firestick or Roku. Creating an immersive workout environment can enhance the experience and help you stay focused on what’s in front of you. Plus, ditching the phone means zero notifications or phone calls to distract you from your session.
- Record: Keep a Detailed Health Log — Something about progress-tracking does wonders for those who have trouble staying on course. Many fitness tracking apps and devices can dial up the motivation factor by helping you with goal-setting and providing incentives for reaching said goals. These technologies also help you realize that even tiny changes can make a huge difference in terms of health and wellness. In addition to logging all exercise and food, consider using a device that tracks daily steps and sleep patterns.
- Stay Consistent: Make (and Keep) a Schedule — At the end of the day, you’re not going to see positive results if you don’t stay on a schedule. Being committed to a certain exercise regimen each week helps you keep your commitment to improving your health and takes the guesswork out of planning each week’s activities. If you get bored easily, make Sunday your designated scheduling day and plan out your sweat sessions for the entire week. Don’t forget to mix things up and include intervals of cardio, weight training and stretching.
Go Easy on Yourself
One more important thing to remember: give yourself a break. We’re all adjusting to this new normal where our house is the hub of our entire lives and our schedules have been totally turned upside down. Grant yourself permission to make mistakes, skip days and feel bored. As long as you try your best to treat your body well and stay on a consistent routine, you’ll be much better off when you feel ready to go back to the gym.
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