As you get older and busier, it seems harder and harder to make it to the gym. Well, I hate to tell you, but that “I had to work all night” excuse is getting old. Some of the best workouts I’ve ever had have been done right in my living room. How can you work out without a gym?
Find plenty of space. If you’re forced to work out at home, find the place with the most space. Whether it’s a basement, a living room, or a bedroom, gravitate towards wherever has the most open surface!
Lock the door. One of the best things about going to the gym is the escape it gives you (Yes, it’s ok to admit that your kids get a little annoying every once in a while). Lock the door and isolate yourself from your responsibilities. Just as you would be doing at the gym.
Circuits. In an effort to get the most out of your workout, do timed circuits, doing one set and then repeating that multiple times. Try to do a whole set without stopping. A set can be something as simple as this: Jumping jacks for one minute, push-ups for 30 seconds, bodyweight squats for one minute, and sit-ups for 30 seconds. Repeat that series 3 or 4 times and then switch it up.
Body weight is all you need. Don’t underestimate the value of bodyweight workouts. Push-ups are hard and squats are, too. If you don’t think so, start upping your reps and you’ll start to feel the burn.
Stretch. Always stretch, but especially when working out at home. It’s easy to do with a limited amount of space and can really help you out. Do some normal stretching and some strength stretching!
Full-body exercises. Focus on the entire body. Don’t isolate a certain muscle group today – attack it all! This gives you more options to choose from and undoubtedly exhausts the body (which is actually really good).
You don’t have to take an off-day just because you can’t get to the gym. Make your house your own gym, and make the best of a bad situation. Work against time, and give it your all. Have a great workout!