Health experts are advising people to keep moving and leading active lifestyles even when they are home isolated. But as much as home workouts are important, do they really work? Many people swear that exercising indoors can never help anyone to achieve their fitness goals. It is a total waste of time, they say. Well, nothing can be further from the truth. The truth of the matter is that exercising at home is one of the best ways to exercise at your own space, pace, and time. You just have to find ways of minimizing distractions and making good use of your limited space and you will be on the way to achieving your fitness goals. If lack of motivation is what has been holding you back from working out at home, there are many online videos that will break barriers for you, or you can ask your family members to join your workout routine just as your source of motivation.
Home workouts are fun, convenient, and a no-brainer when done right. If that hasn’t been the case for you, here are some game-changing tips to improve your workout while isolated at home.
Make a plan and stick to it
Most people have forgotten about routines. We wake up when we feel like, watch TV late into the night, and eat anything we find in the fridge. This tendency needs to stop. Create a routine for everything you do in the house and stick by it. If you are working from home, make a point of waking up early and being in the home office as early as you would be if you were still going to your workplace. Eat healthy meals as you always do; forget about the fridge for now. If you go to the gym in the evening, do the same thing now. You will not struggle to find consistency when you do everything as you used to before coronavirus.
Start small and track your progress
Focus all your energy on achieving short term goals; one day at a time. You can start by working out for 20 minutes every day before challenging yourself to achieve that 45 minutes workout plan you saw online. Your initial goal should be to just get more active, and then you can add 10 minutes every new week.
If you have opted for backyard biking, ease yourself into the biking world with motorized bicycles. Motorized bikes are designed to give your pedaling a boost so as to minimize the stress and impact that an ordinary bike has on your knees and thighs. Your age or health status will not bar your riding potential.
Invest in an air purifier
There are tons of pollutants (micro particles) inside your house that make your indoor exercising harder than it needs to be. These include invisible allergens, chemicals, and bacteria that compromise your breathing efficiency every time you inhale them. Remember that you tend to breathe more heavily when exercising, including through your mouth, which means that most of the air you breathe isn’t filtered. Your best shot at eliminating these pollutants is to invest in an air purifier.
Set up healthy rewards
Every time you check a workout challenge off your list, reward yourself with a healthy treat. Promise yourself that you will only take that luxurious bubble bath after an intense month-long workout routine. Decide that you will only watch your favorite TV show after completing 100 sprints for the day. Note that by healthy rewards, we mean that junk foods are off the table. If you have to reward yourself with a meal, go for a meal that will energize your muscles in readiness for tomorrow’s workout.
Create a workout space at home
If you have a spacious home for a fully-equipped home gym, you definitely have no reason not to be fit. If you aren’t as lucky, you can still allocate a room as your make-shift home gym, or just move your furniture to create room for a workout space in your living room. If you have a balcony or an outdoor garden, those too can make a good make-shift workout area. Ensure that you treat that one specific spot with as much respect as you treat your local gym. Wear your full workout gear when going to that “gym” and ensure that you are always punctual. If you are relying on online workout videos, respect the online instructor as much as you do with your local gym instructor. This is important for building your workout mindset.
Conclusion
Avoid getting comfortable with the same routine. As your body gets fitter and stronger, be sure to scale up your workouts for better results and as a way of breaking monotony.
Have a Fitness Question or Tip to Share? Leave it in the comments.
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