Our homes have become even more multipurpose since quarantine started. With calls to social distance and avoid going out, we were forced to do everything from our house. It became the workplace, the entertainment center, the restaurant, and the gym — all on top of the previous functions it had before the pandemic.
Though as months pass, the initial novelty of the house replacing our favorite locations is wearing off. People are experiencing cabin fever from being cooped up and seeing the four corners of a small space day in and day out. You’re about ready to exchange anything so you can go off-roading again in your ATV or go for a run to breathe fresh and natural air.
Aside from the great outdoors, the gym is also one of the places people miss. The high energy of a group class, a wide range of workout equipment, and encouraging shouts of the physical trainer are all but a dream. Exercising at home can become dull and repetitive, especially if you’re used to the gym atmosphere. Thankfully, with creativity and resourcefulness, you don’t have to put up with a monotonous routine. Here are a few ways you can level up your workouts at home, and say goodbye to the gym in the meantime:
Variety is key
If you get bored with watching the same movie or TV show multiple times, then it shouldn’t be a surprise that the same logic applies to your exercise routine. The human brain craves challenges and new experiences, releasing a rush of the happy hormone dopamine to encourage the hunt for newness. That has become an evolutionary advantage because human beings’ thirst for knowledge can spur technology and innovation that helps increase survival. Applied to working out, looking for variety avoids a plateau in performance and results. If you’re doing the same thing repeatedly, the body won’t grow stronger and remain at its current level.
What gets measured gets done
Ever wonder why checking off items from to-do lists can be addicting? That is because having solid proof of productivity and progress can show that you are on your way to achieving your goal. The milestones prove that all the pain and sweat will amount to something more substantial. The same will be true if you start tracking your workouts. You’ll see how stronger and faster you’ve become. It can also give you an idea of your strengths and weaknesses, which you can use to personalize your workouts. A lot of mobile fitness applications like Strong and Gymbook are available for easier tracking and monitoring.
Dress to impress
It might be tempting to wear your pajamas or house clothes when working out at home since there’s no one there anyway. However, what you wear can contribute to your motivation and confidence when working out. Experts call this boost “enclothed cognition,” which refers to a mental shift when certain clothes are worn. Your brain uses the clothes as the cue that you will be working out, much like how a theater actor puts on their costume to get into character.
With gyms closed for the foreseeable future, working out at home will remain the only viable option to reach fitness goals. You can make it more exciting by adding variety to the routine, tracking your progress, and wearing stunning workout clothes.
