With the COVID-19 pandemic growing worse by the day, working out at gyms and other public settings has become extremely ill-advised. However, for people who are accustomed to getting their daily exercise at gyms, the prospect of working out at home is liable to seem daunting. After all, many of us are creatures of routine, and any shake-ups to our everyday rituals are likely to be met with resistance. Still, desperate times call for desperate measures – and things don’t get more desperate than an out-of-control pandemic. Longtime gym-goers looking to create the perfect at-home fitness space can benefit from the following pointers.
Provide Yourself with the Perfect Background Entertainment
Some of us enjoy being entertained while working out. As such, it’s hardly surprising that large-screen televisions and state-of-the-art sound systems can be found in a large number of gyms. So, if you like taking in your favorite shows, movies or music while working to meet your fitness goals, make sure that your at-home workout space contains the necessary entertainment aids. For example, if you love watching your favorite programs or feature films on a dedicated screen, consider investing in a television meant specifically for this area. Similarly, if you enjoy rocking out to your favorite tunes while working up a sweat, you may want to install some speakers or a full-blown sound system. (Granted, you could just use your phone, but some people prefer to do their music-listening on a larger scale.)
Minimize Noise from Outside
Depending on your preferred fitness activity, calm and quiet may be highly conducive to a productive workout. For instance, yoga enthusiasts generally prefer exercise areas to be as quiet and peaceful as possible. However, depending on where you live, a perfectly quiet home fitness space may seem like a pipedream. If you reside in a major metropolitan area with an abundance of foot traffic, passing vehicles and noise pollution, there’s a good chance a lot of the sounds from these sources are going to find their way into your workout area.
Luckily, drowning out exterior noise is much easier than you may think. By equipping any windows in your fitness space with soundproofing curtains, you can effectively muffle a vast assortment of loud noises. As the name suggests, these curtains are made specifically for areas that are affected by noise pollution. While they won’t cancel out loud noises entirely, soundproofing curtains are highly adept at helping workout areas – and other quiet spaces – maintain manageable volumes.
Leave Work Outside
To say that we live in a culture of overwork would be an understatement. Thanks to the instant connectivity offered by modern technology, many members of the workforce never truly clock out. For a staggering number of people, the difference between being at the office and being at home is negligible. If this describes your situation, make every effort to strive for a better work/life balance. One way to do this is reclaiming your time and banning work-related devices and issues from your designated fitness area. This space should be regarded as a work-free zone, and any matters pertaining to your professional life should be left at the door.
Procure the Right Equipment
In order to get the most out of at-home workouts, you’ll need to have high-quality equipment at your disposal. If you’re into yoga, for example, make sure to procure a resilient mat and yoga pillow that offers proper support. If running or walking is more your thing, a dependable treadmill is sure to serve you well. Furthermore, fitness buffs who enjoy strength training won’t want to be without high-quality weights. To ensure that you’re able to work out in maximum comfort, take care to invest in fitness apparel that’s both flexible and suited to your preferred type of exercise.
The threat posed by the novel coronavirus has facilitated the need to amend our daily routines. Since non-essential outside-the-house activities carry a high degree of risk, it’s generally a good idea to stay close to home whenever possible. This is particularly true when it comes to physical fitness. Although many of us are accustomed to sweating it out at the gym, this type of workout isn’t exactly safe in light of the threat we’re now facing. Fortunately, with a little bit of extra room, a healthy amount of follow-through and a willingness to embrace change, you can create the perfect space in which to exercise from the comfort and safety of home.