With the pandemic not abating anytime soon, more people are deciding to spend more time at home. To avoid totally succumbing to the couch potato lifestyle, you may have started entertaining the idea of a home gym or dedicated workout space at home.
And why not? It’s a great idea to stay fit and active while you’re cooped up indoors. Plus, you don’t have to drive or take the bus to a typical gym just to get a good sweat going.
So what are some suggestions on how you can go about designing the ideal home workout space? Below are a few tips to consider.
Design for workout variety and functionality
When you’re creating a space for workouts, make sure that you’re allowing for as much variety as possible. In other words, don’t limit yourself to just a bench-press and a few barbells. Working on your chest and arms repeatedly, day and day out, is a quick way to injure yourself.
The body needs a good mix of workouts to allow for proper muscle development and recovery. One space can be for chest and arm workouts. Another area could be for core and lower body workouts.
Additionally, consider functionality when you’re designing the space. For example, you can assign a small portion of the space as a dirty laundry area, where you can just throw in sweaty clothes that go straight to the laundromat.
When you’re routinely working out, it can be fairly easy for dirty clothes to pile up and be forgotten in some dark corner. So make sure your favorite pair of shorts or compression sleeves are always available for those intense workouts!
Create a space that will inspire you to move
Whether it’s the basement, attic, or an extra bedroom, create a space that is conducive to physical activity. There are a ton of ways to go about this.
For instance, take a look at the walls. This is a space where you can attach posters or wallpapers that will motivate you to get those workouts done.
Perhaps an image of your idol or favorite athlete will do the trick. Photos of a memorable race or sporting event may also be appropriate. And if you’re the motivational quotes kind of person, then by all means make those words visible in your space.
Next, use natural light to get that heat and energy in. But if your windows are not strategically placed to take advantage of sunlight, you can install lighting fixtures that can produce the same energizing effect.
Invest in proper flooring
There are two main reasons why you need good flooring. First, it’s to protect the floor surface of your home. Second, it helps you avoid injury.
Banging those kettlebells and other equipment can damage your home’s flooring. And when you’re doing core workouts and jumping movements, the hard surface can put stress on your lumbar, hips, and knees. The last thing you want is to increase your risk of sprains and serious knee injuries.
To prevent these scenarios from happening, place foam mats in your workout space. Most options are inexpensive, and you can find them in a number of stores — online or otherwise. If you couldn’t care less about fancy brands and all that jazz, you can easily find them in a nearby home depot.