Hey everyone! With all that is going on in the world right now, I wanted to share something that may be helpful to my fellow gym lovers! Sadly (yet understandably), many gyms are temporarily closing due to the outbreak of COVID-19. This means that many people are either skipping their workouts, or working out from home.
For me personally, I prefer working out in a gym because I feel more motivated to get through a workout this way. When I choose to workout at home, it is a bit more difficult to get through it! Well, now it looks like we don’t have much of a choice, so at-home workouts will have to do!
Today, I wanted to share some tips on how to have a great workout in the comfort of your own home! I know that not everyone has dumbbells or resistance bands lying around, but if you do, it will make your workouts even more challenging! For those of you who do not have these items at home, or cannot purchase them right now, there are alternatives! For added weight, you can use soup cans, milk jugs, bags of apples and even bags of pet food! If you plan on purchasing resistance bands or dumbbells, Amazon has some great options at a variety of prices (although you may not be able to purchase anything right now).
Since my university has moved all of our classes online, and I have been staying home more often, I have had a lot of time to myself. When I have some free time, I really enjoy pampering myself, writing, watching Netflix or YouTube, and of course, working out. I feel lucky that I am one of those people who actually enjoy working out (most of the time). Although I prefer the gym, I have gotten experimental with my at-home workouts and I have found that you do not need to go to the gym to get a great workout in! Here are some of my tips to get you through your at home workouts:
- Purchase gym equipment OR use everyday/common household items
As I mentioned previously, having resistance bands, dumbbells, and a workout bench can be extremely helpful for completing a workout at home. However, I am aware that not everyone has this equipment at their homes, but there are alternatives (see above).
- Make some room
Try to find an area in your home where there is enough space. Depending on where you live, this may or may not be easy. Work with what you have, and if needed, move a few things around!
- Get experimental (find new ways to workout)
When working out at home, you are going to very quickly realize that you may not be able to do every single exercise you would normally do at the gym. For example, when I am doing a pull day, I am working my back and my biceps. If I want to do seated rows or use the lat pull down machine, I cannot necessarily do this at home. This is when you need to get experimental. YouTube and Google can be very helpful for finding new exercises. If you want to replace seated rows, for example, try taking some dumbbells and doing bent over rows. If you love weight lifting, but you’re finding it difficult to do this at home, you can find other forms of exercise. I personally love doing a combination of weight training and HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). Also, don’t underestimate the power of bodyweight exercises!
- Get outdoors
Since so many of us are staying indoors right now, I think that some fresh air is especially essential. Even if you aren’t working out, I would recommend getting outside every day (even if it is just to your back yard)! If you’re able to, I would recommend working out outdoors every once in a while. Whether you want to run, lift weights, or practice some yoga, your body will thank you.
- Grab a friend
I actually prefer to work out alone, but for some people, having a friend by their side makes exercising more enjoyable. By working out with a friend, they can help you avoid distractions, keep you motivated, and keep you laughing!
- Blast the music
Every time I work out at home, I like to blast my music. Anything upbeat and loud usually helps me push through my workouts and keeps me moving… or should I say dancing?
- Put your phone down
I think that one of the reasons I find working out at home to be a bit more difficult is because I am more tempted to take longer breaks/look at my phone. If you have to, turn off your ringer so you won’t hear any notifications going off. While you should absolutely take breaks in between sets, they shouldn’t be more than a couple of minutes. If you look at your phone after doing some shoulder presses, you may find that you’re on your ex boyfriend’s girlfriend’s sister’s cousin’s Instagram page 20 minutes later. Trust me, you don’t want to fall down that rabbit hole. Get a great playlist going and PUT THE PHONE DOWN.
I hope that you found these tips helpful! I know that having to stay in our homes can be frustrating at times, but please remember that by doing this, we are stopping the spread of COVID-19. Even if you are strong and healthy, you could still potentially pass on the illness to someone who isn’t as strong. Take some time to focus on your health, and hopefully sometime soon we can all go back to living a normal life! Thank you for reading!
amandapatch.wordpress.com 