Pandemic Workouts: The Case For Creating An At-Home Gym

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of us didn’t spend as much time at the gym during the winter as we perhaps should. It’s much easier to stay indoors when going outside means facing snow and ice, or simply cold temperatures. For that matter, concerns about flu season may have had you worried about trekking outside far before COVID-19 was something we had to be concerned over. Plus, winter is surprisingly busy! It’s easy for us to get distracted by the holidays, not to mention all of the holiday food. Why would you want to hit the gym right after Thanksgiving?

Nonetheless, there are a lot of health benefits to working out. And exercising regularly doesn’t mean that you have to leave your house. In fact, you don’t even need to go jogging if you really don’t want to do so. Many people are compensating for the issues we’re facing this winter by creating at-home gyms. Let’s explore the why behind this issue, as well as how you can create an at-home gym that serves your specific needs.

Why Should I Create a Gym At Home?

There are lot of reasons why you should create a gym at home. For one thing, it’s easier to work out as needed when you have everything that you need at home. It’s hard to create an excuse for not working out when you have everything that you need in your home and can easily exercise while watching television. The more that you exercise, the healthier that you’ll be. You’ll be able to fight off obesity, which in itself comes with plenty of other health complications like heart disease and diabetes. Furthermore, exercising regularly is noted to help ward off stress and depression. What’s more, it can help you gain strength, flexibility, and endurance — all of which you need to maintain your well-being and fight off a plethora of diseases. And although 25% of reported injury claims each year involve slips, trips, and falls, the likelihood of you taking a tumble in your at-home gym is much more remote than the physical benefits you’ll experience.

Right now is the time to invest in creating your own gym, for more reasons than one. Obviously, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it inadvisable for people to go out and about as they normally would. Gyms, especially crowded gyms, are the perfect places for the virus to spread. If you’re really taking social distancing seriously, you should consider working out at home; and creating your own indoor gym allows you to reap the same benefits that you would when working out at a public gym.

Another benefit of keeping your own gym at home is that you won’t need to pay membership dues to an outside gym any longer. You may be surprised by how much money this could help you save in the long term. How many of us buy into gym memberships without ever actually attending the gym on a regular basis? You can additionally save the time that you would spend on commuting to the gym, and can even potentially add value to your home in the long term. If you really work on your gym at home, it could very well set your house apart from others on the market if you decide to sell down the road.

Where Should I Place My Gym?

You don’t necessarily have to make an addition to your home in order to have the gym of your dreams. You could actually get the gym that you want simply through renovating a space that you’ve been neglecting. Roughly 40% of a home’s heat loss escapes through an attic, but you could still get plenty of mileage out of the space itself. It could be a great location for your at-home gym if you add some additional insulation. Your unfinished basement could be converted into the ideal place to work out. If you have a guest bedroom or even an office that isn’t getting any use, consider converting these spaces into a gym. Your at-home gym doesn’t need to be massive; it just needs to accommodate your equipment.

Keep in mind that it’s a good idea for your at-home gym to be air-conditioned, or at least well-ventilated, as you’ll likely work up a sweat while in there. Additionally, you may want to replace the flooring if the floors that you already have aren’t flexible or bouncy enough. This will make it easier for you to work out without worrying about damage, and materials like bamboo can furthermore absorb moisture.

What Should I Add to My Gym?

There are so many pieces of equipment that you may want to consider adding to your at-home gym. Prioritize the types of exercise that work for and appeal to you. If you’re someone who prefers yoga, you may not need a lot of equipment at all, instead focusing on those floors and investing in good mats. But a lot of homeowners like to have at least a couple of machines to work with. One particularly useful option is a stationary bike. A stationary bike saves space and offers multiple health incentives. In fact, a study revealed that cycling can lower your risk of premature mortality by as much as 30% while reducing cardiorespiratory disease development risk by 40%.

If you have the space, other great workout machines include the classic treadmill as well as ellipticals. You may want to keep smaller pieces of equipment in a chest or general container nearby. Resistance bands are great options for your core strength and arms, while weighted jump ropes offer excellent cardio workouts. Consider adding dumbbells and a medicine ball to your collection. You can top off your at-home gym with a stereo system or a television for entertainment, making it even easier for you to work out as you wish.

There are so many benefits to adding ton at-home gym to your house. You can add value to your home, reduce your risk of catching COVID-19, and simply establish healthier habits within your daily routine. Why not consider making this change? Explore your home and try to consider where might be the best location for your at-home gym.