Your home gym is complete. But are you ready… really ready, to train? Let’s explore the mental aspects associated with a workout environment intentionally designed to elevate your physique.
You Are Part of the Equation
Truth be told, you’re a necessary factor in how your gym is shaped (no pun intended), approached, and utilized. If not, all of the obvious conveniences (i.e., time/money saved, creative freedom, and overall practicality) won’t mean a thing. You are after positive results, after all. So, omitting oneself can prove to be more costly than you think. But what does this mean, specifically?
Well, most people’s perception of a home gym is limited to equipment and floor mats; that’s it. In theory, yes, that’s all you need. But will it drive you forward? Because, consequently, most people with home gyms don’t train regularly. They’re excited at first, but the initial feeling of motivation quickly wears thin. The solution, therefore, is to personalize your experience.
Do you prefer utter quietness when lifting weights? Or do you like the iron to be complemented with the music of your choice? Or maybe the distraction of a TV show or movie can indirectly help you remain concentrated. Is art important to you, and if so, would these images and/or objects represent a desired look… or is it simply appealing visuals (possibly specific colors) that get you going?
You need to ask yourself these questions. It’s, without exaggeration, imperative because, otherwise, you may not get past the early excitement phase. And, let’s be honest, building muscle takes consistent & calculated effort. Most importantly, you need to put in the work.
Budget Is a Reality
For most individuals wanting to start a home gym or get back into it (meaning, more seriously), budget is a real factor. And it’s not just about what free weights and resistance/cardio machines (let alone food/supplements) you can afford. It’s about your general financial mindset from a realistic perspective. It’s not about thinking you’re richer than you are (or, conversely, that you’re too poor to train like a pro athlete with all of the resources in the world). It’s about recognizing the limitations of what you can have & do, and working with that.
If finances are an issue, keep in mind that less is often more. Cheap foam/puzzle mats, adjustable dumbbells (increments of 5-50 lbs or so), and an adjustable bench are a great starting point (not to mention space-saving). And then, remember to personalize.
Cabin Fever
Cabin fever extends beyond working a job or business from home. I mean, we’re still working when training our bodies. And with being at home, it’s easy to get irritable… or too comfortable with not actually training. A separate location (from common living areas) usually helps with this, but not everyone has access to a room in their apartment or house dedicated entirely to fitness. So, what else can you do to avoid getting sick of working out of and/or, literally, how you perceive your home gym?
Not training as often is one; in this case, split your workouts into three days (as opposed to four, five, or six). Or do the opposite, quick workouts spread over six days.
Another strategy is varying workouts. So, maybe cardio or circuit training (which is also, in part, aerobic) could be performed every other training day. You’d naturally complement this with heavier weight/resistance/strength training as part of your weekly workout schedule. It just makes the experience feel fresher when you’re not doing things the same way, day after day.
Finally, you can utilize other parts of your house or apartment building. For example, you can run stairs if available/accessible. You can also do push-ups (and/or air squats, chair dips, etc) on your back and/or front porch/balcony/terrace if the weather permits.
Think Outside of the Box
Without hopefully going too off-topic, you can complement a home gym with an outdoor/public park gym, once again, if the weather permits. It won’t cost you anything, and bodyweight training can be a nice addition to traditional weight training, forcing muscle fibers to work to a degree that they wouldn’t otherwise. It also gets you out of the house, which is always a good thing… especially today; in other words, viewing nature over a colder, more manufactured environment is often beneficial.
Apartment buildings/rentals and condos (i.e., condominiums) usually include a small fitness center, which is likely bigger (and more well-equipped) than your home gym. While it almost defeats the purpose of training at home (i.e., other gym-goers will be in your vicinity), the occasional change may provide a more dynamic workout, alongside a new visual canvas for training as well.
Lastly, if regularly training in a commercial, office, or school gym is better suited to you — DO IT! In the end, you need to work out consistently and in a disciplined fashion to get results. Don’t deprive yourself of this because of your original vision of the ideal home gym gone sideways; you could always come back to it later!!!