More of us are working out at home than ever before. But is it working? Home exercise programs have the potential to whip you into the best shape of your life – but they also present new challenges. Check out this helpful list from Anatole on Briarwood to prepare you for more effective and sustained home workouts. 

1. Show Up

For most of us, the biggest challenge we’ll face in reaching our fitness goals is sustaining our effort over a long period of time. New Year’s resolutions offer the perfect case in point. We mean well, and we may start out hot out of the gate, but putting forth the same effort on the last day of the year as the first takes powerful discipline. Sustaining effort can be especially challenging when we’re in the comfort of our own home, without a gym atmosphere to inspire us.

What’s the answer? Establishing exercise as a habit. When you’re going after fitness goals, you want to build exercise into your life in such a way that you can’t live without it. That starts with having the mental fortitude to just show up – whether you’re feeling ready to conquer a mountain, or curl up and nap. Just show up, and good things will happen! If you’re having a tough time establishing habits, there are plenty of great resources to encourage you and get you in the groove.

2. Set a Goal

Consider this simple question: What drives us to keep doing something over a long period of time? For example, why do most of us work five days a week, every week, for many years? We sustain our effort in order to achieve a goal that we couldn’t reach in a shorter amount of time. 

The same goes for our health and fitness. If we know that sustained effort is crucial to improving our fitness, then setting goals will give us the fuel to get there. To get the best results from your home workouts, you’ll need to set measurable and precise goals – carrots to keep you moving forward. Make sure that these goals are reasonable, so you’re not discouraged when you’re just getting started, and allow yourself time to improve. Check out this article on goal setting for some extra tips.

3. Find Support

Tackling a fitness challenge on your own would be super challenging – and no fun! Instead, surround yourself with the support to carry you along the way. Build a support system unique to you and your needs. Are you the type that responds well to a kick in the butt? Get accountability from a good buddy who won’t let you get off track. If you need gentle encouragement to keep you going, ask your sweetest friend to follow up with you. Text threads, online forums, and video chats can all be great ways to stay in touch with our accountability partners. 

4. Invest in Your Fitness

For those of us who are budget conscious, spending money on exercise programs and equipment can feel like an unnecessary extra expense. Fight the impulse to treat it that way. Your health and fitness are worth it! Start with budgeting a small amount each month for paid memberships, home gym equipment, or whatever will get you excited about your workouts. A little investment can go a long way in opening up exercise options at home. Plus, spending that dough can be a real incentivizer to get you off the couch!

You don’t have to shell out thousands of dollars on new, high-end technology (although there are some amazing options out there if you can and want to go that route). Fitness apps like SWEAT and BeachBody on Demand provide thoughtful programming with low monthly fees and require just a few weights or resistance bands.

5. Make It Enjoyable

Let’s be real: You won’t do it if you hate it! Few of us have the discipline to consistently do something we genuinely dislike doing. Besides, why would we want to spend our lives that way? 

The key to keeping you moving with home workouts is finding enjoyment in the act of doing them. Look long and hard for an exercise program that meets your goals and that you enjoy. If it’s not jumping jacks or push-ups, don’t give up. There are an infinite number of ways to move your body that will improve your fitness. Keep searching until you find a program you love. 

Then, it’s time to get busy!

Looking for more ideas on how to stay active in and around Midland? Check out our blog for helpful tips and how-tos.