The prospect of trying to create your own dream gym setup at home can seem daunting. After all, any of us don’t have the biggest budget or even a lot of spare area to dedicate as gym space. However, a home gym doesn’t need to be as extravagant or as feature-rich as the local commercial gym, it simply needs to be functional, safe, and able to help you achieve your own workout goals.
Even if you find more space or budget over time to dedicate to your home gym, the most important thing to do right now is to begin. There is zero shame in a workout space that begins as simply as a couple of weights tucked under a bed or a boxing bag in your garage.
Here are a few space-efficient items that are essential for your home gym setup, either to acquire piecemeal or all at once, none of them which will break the bank.
Boxing Bag
Adding a bit of boxing into your workout is an easy way to inject it with some dynamic cardio with strength training all wrapped into one. If you aren’t at liberty to stick screws into their ceilings, consider seeking out a quality boxing bag stand. Having a boxing bag in your space is a sure way to tempt you into at least throwing a few punches at it each time you come home from work.
Pull Up Bar
There are many varieties of pull up bars available that will attach simply to a door frame within your home without the need for any modification of the door frame. These pull up bars aren’t likely to bring the doorframe down when they are used correctly. Before use, ensure that your door frame is made from wood and free from any gaps or defects.
Dumbbells
There is a slew of additional exercises you can do simply with the addition of a couple of dumbbells. The adjustable variety is perhaps the most versatile, but the set weight versions are also an option. Adjustable dumbbells can be great as they allow you to incrementally increase the amount of weight you’re using and continuously challenge yourself further.
Kettlebell
Kettlebells are perhaps one of the single most versatile pieces of fitness gear out there. The kettlebell can be used to achieve many of the same exercises that a dumbbell makes possible, but its unique weight distribution opens the door to unique exercises such as the kettlebell swing and many other two-handed exercises that simply aren’t possible with the dumbbell.
Jump Rope
Using a jump rope is another direct path to cardio and it’s in a form factor that packs away easily and is inexpensive. A jump rope is also a great way to work on your coordination. For advanced users, there are options such as lightweight ropes which will help build lean muscle and heavier ropes to build strength.
Exercise Mat
An exercise mat or a yoga mat will increase your comfort whilst doing floor exercises, reduce your chance of slipping and even give your floor a little bit of protection from accidentally dropped weights. Exercise mats can even reduce the impact on your back and joints when compared with hard flooring.
Resistance Bands
Perhaps the most lightweight and compact item on the list, resistance bands are a great alternative to free weights as they can facilitate many of the same exercises with an added level of flexibility in the way that they can be used. They’re also less risky for your floors. There’s quite a variety of them, so be sure to choose your best fit.
Adjustable Bench
Whilst a bench is a little more expensive and takes up a fair amount of space, it can be invaluable in safely positioning your body for certain exercises. A bench will expand the number of exercises you’ll be able to do with the dumbbells and the kettlebell. Depending on your needs and preferences, an exercise ball can be a suitable alternative at a cheaper price.
Determination
Even if you procure every single piece of the highest quality gear that you can find, your home gym setup won’t be of any use if it’s, well, not seeing any use. Bringing the workout into the home isn’t a sure-fire path to generating intrinsic motivation. If the cold mornings used to keep you from getting out of bed to walk to your local gym, then having it next door won’t necessarily make a difference all on its own.
A tool as important as any other in your home gym is your own discipline. It is sure to be much more of a place of comfort – within a space where it could be easier to flop into bed instead or to start scrolling through socials.
What can be most important of all is to have a plan, set daily goals, or set aside a distinct time each day for your workout. With quality gear and your own discipline working together in tandem, then you’ll be sure to get the most out of your home gym setup.