The Pros & Cons of Home Workouts

Whether you’re deciding if you should return to the gym post-COVID, or your gyms are open now, check out these pros and cons of home workouts (and how to make the most of them):

PRO- It’s easier to get motivated.
If you’re like me, the hardest part of a workout is finding the motivation to start one. Tennis shoes? Check. Gym bag? Packed. Keys-phone-wallet? Got ‘em—now all you need is to drive to the gym…and somehow your phone seems twice as interesting.

With home workouts, that dreaded travel barrier has been lifted. It’s a lot less daunting to start a workout when it’s just there.

CON- It’s harder to stay motivated.
The flipside to this is that it’s much easier to quit your workout once you start. You may not have a designated workout space that can keep you in the zone, or your phone (once again) seems twice as interesting— or your kids/partner/housemates just reaaaallllly need your help right now.

Distractions run rampant at home. To alleviate this, create a space for yourself that feels separate from your everyday life (check out this article on optimizing your home workout space).

If you find that your phone becomes public enemy #1—put on your favorite workout playlist and some wireless headphones, then place your phone out of sight for the rest of your workout.

PRO- It’s cheaper to get started.

With gym memberships averaging at about $60 per month (plus registration fees)—investing in some versatile equipment like a resistance band set, yoga mat, and stability ball seems like chump change.

Plus, there are plenty of amazing free workouts to follow along to on YouTube. The workouts you can do at home are virtually endless and are as challenging as you make it.

CON- Your amenities are limited.

Depending on your fitness goals, it may be difficult to progress with the equipment you have at home. Plus, with the quarantine home workout craze, it can be next to impossible to find the equipment you need to round out your home gym.

It’s true—gyms have a lot of stuff (what’s that thing for?) Gyms offer both space and variety that you may not have at home.

SOLUTION - Bundle the essentials.

Canceling your gym membership is so much easier when you have the right tools to set your living room up for success. This bundle has everything you need to stay fit! Customize yours by choosing from 3 Jump Rope styles and 2 Hip Band colors. And of course, each bundle comes with Core Sliders so you can glide your way to the perfect home workout experience.

PRO- You have privacy.

Want to try that Zumba class? At home, you can literally dance like no one’s watching. There are no sweatless Influencers to compare yourself to or creepers to avoid. It’s just you vs. you (or your recorded fitness instructor).

CON- You lack community.

Gym rats often befriend other gym rats, from the receptionists to Suzy at Pilates. Working out at home can cut you off from a community you’ve grown to love.

Fortunately, there are plenty of Zoom workout classes to explore. It may not be quite the same, but they can certainly help cultivate a community where you have none.

SOLUTION: Work out at a park.

If you have a hard time staying motivated during your workouts, it may help to enter a space separate from your domestic sphere. Exercising outside can also add that needed variety to your normal routines. Also, if you’re missing your workout buddy, invite them along and workout at a safe distance!

Just remember to wear a mask.

This article was written by Melissa Pelowski. Want to write for us? Email your pitch to submissions@sportsresearch.com for consideration.