Regularly exercising is immensely beneficial to our health - both physically and mentally. However, it can be daunting for those who have yet to develop a workout routine and sticking to it in the long term requires determination and discipline.
If you are unfamiliar with home workouts and don’t know where to begin, here’s all you need to kick start your fitness journey!
1) Get the right mindset
What are your goals for working out? Are you looking to boost your metabolism, work off the stress or perhaps to occupy your time? Identifying your “why” is a huge part to staying motivated and positive in your fitness journey.
Benefits of home workouts include helping you achieve and improve your health, boost one’s mental health and help you sleep better.
If you’re able to and want to, having a workout buddy or group who joins you virtually for home workouts is a good idea to help increase motivation and enjoyment.
2) Wear the right clothes
Everyone has a unique body but there are workout staples for home workouts that tend to be universal.
You'll want to find a supportive sports bra with sweat-wicking tops and bottoms. A cute workout outfit that you feel comfortable and stylish in is a great investment to get you motivated.
Ideally, it should be form fitting to ensure minimal shifting during exercises and help you feel comfortable.
3) Start small
If you are new to vigorous physical exercises, it is important not to stretch your limits too much at the start, and create an exercise plan tailored to your particular needs.
For beginners, you should work on flexibility and stability, to strengthen the muscles, expand your range of motion in order to prevent injuries and improve your body coordination. Examples include yoga, pilates and core-strengthening exercises.
Once you feel more confident, you can now progress to more vigorous exercises such as resistance training, aerobic exercises, and High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT).
Resistance training helps to increase muscle strength, while aerobic training such as dancing increases your heart rate and boosts your metabolism. Lastly, HIIT refers to exercises done in short bursts of high intensity, followed by lower intensity exercises or rest periods and require both strong muscular endurance as well as stamina.
The goal is to start slow in order to build up your fitness level, and let your body rest adapt to the routine to prevent injuries. Everyone works out and progresses at a different pace, most importantly, do what works best for you and have fun with it.
4) Start a routine
Another key component of home workouts, or exercising in general is to stick to a routine.
It is also helpful to make a schedule or exercise at the same time every day to sustain your routine.
For example, you can make exercise a habit by scheduling a workout 30 minutes after work every day or first thing in the morning. It’s important to choose a time that works best for you.
Wearing activewear in advance can also get you in the mood to exercise, as well as mentally prepare yourself. You can also have set outfits for certain exercises, such as leggings for yoga, or blue tops for aerobic exercises, the possibilities are endless.
Start your workout journey today!
Ultimately, remember that we all move at our own pace, and focus on what is most enjoyable for your body.
If you are new to strenuous physical activities, and experience discomfort while exercising, you should consult a healthcare provider and get a physical medical examination before starting an exercise routine.
An early checkup can also detect any health problems that could put you at risk for injuries during exercise.
Click here to explore comfortable and stylish activewear to kick start your home workouts.
