Do you have a hard time making it to the gym to work out? Maybe you feel like you don’t have the time or resources to make it on a regular basis. Or, maybe you live out in the boonies or across town, making it difficult to commit to a gym.
Whatever your reason, creating a workout space in your home can be a convenient and cost-effective solution. Not only will you save time and money, but it also gives you the flexibility to exercise on your schedule.
In this post, we will go over our recommendations to create a dedicated space for working out in your home, as well as some tips for keeping it organized and motivating. Whether you live in a house or an apartment, doing these things can make it significantly easier to be consistent away from the gym. So, if you’re ready to take control of your fitness routine and create a home workout space that works for you, read on!
Creating Your space
Creating a space for working out can be as simple or complex as you like, depending on your needs and preferences. Before worrying about any other detail, it may help to know what you plan to do with that space. If you just need some space to move around, then what will that take? If you need a fully built-out garage gym, how are you going to accomplish that? What will you do in that space?
The more precise you can be, the easier it will be to create a workout space that works for you. Just having a dedicated workout area in your home is not a guarantee you will use it. You need to have a plan.
Once you know what you’ll do with it, consider these factors:
Location
The first factor to consider is the size of the space. You want to choose a location that is big enough to accommodate the equipment you will be using and allow you to move around comfortably. If you are limited on space, like we are, your space may be a shared area or the outdoors.
Other factors to consider include access to natural light and proximity to other parts of your home.
Having a workout space with lots of natural light can increase your motivation and energy, making it easier to start and stick with an exercise routine. If this isn’t an option, invest in bright, quality lighting to make your space well-lit and inviting.
The proximity of your workout space to other parts of your home is an extremely important consideration. Some people may do best choosing a location that is very accessible to make it as convenient as possible to use the space. Others may do better choosing a location that is a bit removed to help minimize distractions and to ensure you have a quiet and focused environment for your workouts. Whichever route you take, be sure it aligns with your goals and makes it easier to commit to an exercise habit.
In our RV, we prefer to exercise outdoors. But we have about 30 square feet of open floor between the couch and dinette that we use when the weather is poor. This is enough for one of us to use bands, dumbbells, and the floor with few limitations. When figuring out a location for your home workout space, remember that it doesn’t have to be perfect to be effective.
Equipment
Consider this step an investment. While the priciest equipment isn’t necessarily the best, the cheapest equipment is rarely worth the headache. As I like to say, “buy nice or buy twice.” Save yourself some frustration and money by researching before you buy. For those buying items like dumbbells, cardio equipment, racks, or barbells, garagegymreviews.com is a fantastic resource to help find the best equipment for your buck.
If you have the space and budget, get all the toys you want. It’s your home gym, make it one you can be proud of. But for those of us who are working with a more limited area and budget, it helps to write out what you plan to do in your space.
For those in the Trained For Adventure Membership Club, you might only need a few dumbbells or adjustable dumbbells and a pull-up bar. If you enjoy lifting heavy, you’ll probably invest in a decent barbell, plates, a rack, and some rubber flooring.
Consider using other items such as a bench for step-ups or modifying push-ups, or a couple of chairs for doing dips.
Whatever you need, be sure to weigh the pros and cons of each piece of equipment, how much space it will take, and how much that piece of equipment will benefit you. If you can easily see yourself using something in multiple different ways, it’s probably a good buy. On the other hand, if it’s something that only has a few uses or you don’t know how to use it well, it may be best to put that purchase off until later.
For those on a limited budget or living in a smaller space or in an RV, check out this article for our equipment recommendations.
Set Up
Once you have chosen a location and gathered the necessary equipment, it’s time to set up your workout space. Arrange the equipment in a way that makes it easy for you to use and leaves enough space for you to move around comfortably. If you plan to do a lot of floor-based exercises, such as planks or push-ups, make sure to leave enough space for those activities. You should also consider the flow of the space, so that you can move from one exercise to the next without having to navigate around obstacles.
Another important factor in how often you use this space is how convenient and accessible it is to use. Be sure to make the process of actually using this space as frictionless as possible. For example, avoid stacking things on or around your exercise equipment. Keep this space as appealing and easy to exercise in as you can.
Other features you may appreciate:
A mirror. They’re not just for checking out your guns! A mirror is great because you can watch yourself move in real time, which can be helpful when learning new exercises. If you don’t want to watch yourself sweat, just don’t mount it or cover it up once you get going.
Music system. Some people enjoy suffering in silence. For the rest of us, music can increase your tolerance for discomfort, helping you push harder, longer, and faster than you might otherwise.
A fan. Even if you are exercising in a cool garage or shaded outdoor space, a fan can keep you feeling refreshed and ready to go.
A small whiteboard. Writing down the workout on a dry-erase board not only makes it easy to see what comes next, but it can also be helpful to keep track of rounds and reps during a workout. Alternatively, you can open your TFA workout on your laptop or connect to a TV.
Personalize
Finally, don’t be afraid to add some personal touches to your workout space. This could include things like a fresh coat of paint, artwork, plants, or other decorations that make the space feel like your own and help you stay motivated to exercise.
Ultimately, the goal is to create a workout space that makes you feel good and motivated to exercise. By adding personal touches to the space, you can make it feel more like your own and create a positive association with exercise and working out.
Remember that you don’t have to have a large space, or a lot of equipment, to have a great home workout setup. The important thing is to have a dedicated area that is comfortable and well-suited to your needs.
If you have the space all ready to go but you’re not sure what to do, check out the Trained For Adventure Membership Club! With new workouts every day and detailed instructions, you’ll never have to wonder what to do to get fit for your own adventures.
