Tips for Committing to an At-Home Fitness Routine

The emergence of the novel coronavirus has facilitated the need for many of us to stay close to home. Needless to say, this has presented complications for people whose regular workout routines involved going to gyms or crowded public areas. While exercising at home can be a bit of an adjustment for dedicated gym enthusiasts, it’s a necessary step in preserving their safety and curbing the spread of COVID-19. Anyone experiencing trouble committing to an at-home fitness routine can help ease the transition with the following tips.

Set Aside Time to Exercise

Disorganization and inconsistency are often the enemies of physical fitness. If your fitness routine is carried out at different times each day, the likelihood of falling out of your groove may increase. On the flipside, engaging in your new exercise regimen at the same time every day will make it easier to integrate into your daily routine. Of course, this isn’t to say that you can never change things up. For example, if circumstances outside your control demand that your regular exercise time be spent tending to something else, moving your workout to later – or earlier – in the day is perfectly acceptable.

The time of day that’s most beneficial for working out largely depends on your age, lifestyle and daily schedule. For some people, getting up a little earlier than usual and devoting that extra time to exercise can be a great way to start the day on the right foot. This approach ensures that your daily fitness goals have been met by the time you sit down to breakfast. Alternatively, if you’re not much of an early riser or your mornings are swamped, a nighttime workout can help you relax your mind and come down from the day. 

Embrace Healthy Eating Habits

Solid energy levels can mean the difference between a successful workout and a failed one. Since good eating habits can provide you with ample energy, incorporate energy-giving foods into your regular diet. Fruits, vegetables, beans and nuts are just a few common foods that are associated with increased levels. Delicious protein shakes made from protein powder from Vitamin Shoppe shakes can also prove helpful in this endeavor.

Set Realistic Fitness Goals

It’s always tempting to set lofty goals in advance of beginning a new workout regimen. While there’s nothing wrong with aiming high, getting carried away is liable to set you up for disappointment. Additionally, diving into exercise routines you lack the stamina for can lead to extreme physical exhaustion or serious injury. With this in mind, make a point of setting realistic goals at the outset. The less realistic your goals, the more likely you are to get discouraged and throw in the towel.

There’s no shame in making alterations to your workout routine or fitness goals. If your new fitness regimen is too strenuous or your goals are unrealistic, don’t be shy about altering them accordingly.   

Reward Yourself

If you’re looking for motivation to pursue an at-home fitness routine, consider implementing a reward system. For every successful workout, reward yourself with something you enjoy. Getting through a vigorous workout session is likely to prove less cumbersome with the proper motivation in place. For example, watching a few episodes of your favorite show at the end of each workout will give you something to look forward to while you’re sweating it out.

The longer you stick things out, the grander the rewards should become. For instance, after a full week of successful workouts, consider ordering yourself a small gift. The prospect of getting your hands on a book, video game or gadget you’ve had your eye on can be a great motivator.  

If you’ve become accustomed to working out in gyms or crowded public spaces, the COVID-19 pandemic has likely shaken up your fitness regimen. With infection numbers and fatalities steadily on the rise, this type of workout is no longer safe. In addition to putting your own health and safety at risk, continuing to exercise in such a manner stands to compromise the safety of everyone with whom you interact. Working out at home may not be ideal for you, but compared to the toll this pandemic has taken on so many, adjusting to a home-based fitness routine is a fairly minor inconvenience.