Blowing off exercise lately? These tips & free online sources may help get you going again

Think outside the gym

Dedicate an area in your home to working out and have your workout clothes and workout area ready before each workout. If you don’t have much space, there’s a lot that you can do with a simple mat or a towel.

Focus on how the workout will make you feel

When doing regular exercise, it is important that you do physical activities that you enjoy, rather than feeling as though you need to copy what somebody else is doing. Focus on the endorphin rush and how great you will feel afterward.

Maintain a regular routine

Each day can easily flow into the next when you’re at home, which is why sticking to a regular routine is a good idea. Even if things are stressful right now, don’t underestimate how starting your day with a short workout can boost your mood and give you more energy.

Experiment with when to exercise

With Covid and a departure from a “normal” schedule, you might be staying up until 3 am or 4 am and getting up late. If you have been used to exercising in the morning, you might sleep right through that time and miss working out. Consider your current schedule and the types of workouts you are trying to do and think about switching the time of the day. You should at least have some enjoyment in it in order to stay motivated. This means making tweaks when they are necessary.

Wear active wear

Since we are spending more time at home, if you are already dressed to exercise, it can make it easier to be in the right frame of mind for working out. This has a much larger impact on motivation for fitness than you might think.

Take the gradual approach

If working out is something you want to do long-term (even if it is from home), you need to turn it into a lifestyle. So if you haven’t exercised since self-isolation began, you might want to go slow in the beginning and give yourself time to get back in shape. This means slowly adding in more workouts, gradually increasing the intensity, and only switching things up when it is needed.

Use the 5-minute rule to get going

This is an easy trick you can do that will help on the days when you have no motivation. While you should give your body a break when you need it, some days you just know you’re making excuses. That is when the 5-minute rules can help. Here is how it works:

Pick a workout you want to do, usually something that doesn’t require a lot of effort. Promise yourself that you will do just 5 minutes of that exercise. Set a timer on your phone if you want, or just keep an eye on the time. After 5 minutes, if you’re still tired and don’t feel like continuing, feel free to stop. At least you put in an effort. Most of the time, you can go another 5 minutes. Keep doing this until you feel like you have done all you can do.

More often than not, it is getting started that is the problem, not actually working out. If you are at a place in your fitness journey where you keep making excuses, just try for 5 minutes and see how you feel.

Buddy up

Working out with someone else is almost always better than alone. Not only does it make it more enjoyable, but you have someone to keep you motivated and accountable. This could be someone that is living with you or a virtual buddy.

Online sources to keep you going

If you’re looking for more ways to work out at home, these fitness companies offer free workout videos or trial periods (courtesy NBC News Better):

Cardio and Strength

• Fitness Blender: Free cardio, strength and stretch workout videos
• Beachbody: Online classes with a 14-day free trial
• ObéFitness: Live fitness classes with a 30-day free trial (use code ATHOME)
• The Sculpt Society: Online cardio and sculpting workouts with a 14-day free trial
• P.volve: Streamed functional movement workouts with a 30-day free trial (use code ONEPVOLVE)
• Fhitting Room: On demand HIIT and strength workouts with a 30-day free trial

Yoga and Pilates

• YogaWorks: Online yoga classes with a 14-day free trial
• SkyTing: Online yoga classes with a free 7-day trial
• Blogilates: Free workout videos, challenges and plans
• Pilates Anytime: Access to over 3,000 Pilates classes with 15-day free trial

At-home workouts

• A one-month resistance band workout you can do anywhere
• 10 core exercises that are better for your back (and body) than crunches
• A 15-minute full body HIIT workout — no equipment required
• 2-in-1 exercises that will tone your arms and abs