Have you ever felt frustrated after doing a home workout? You’re putting in extra hours and still not seeing any results. You’re not alone. A lot of people unintentionally end up making mistakes.
Understanding these common pitfalls is the first step towards bringing about a change. Let’s look at four mistakes you need to avoid and how.
Setting Unrealistic Goals
One of the many reasons people talk themselves out of going to the gym is that they don’t see results immediately. The same thing happens when you start working out at home. When you set unrealistic fitness goals for yourself and then fail to do so, you get frustrated and overwhelmed.
Ultimately, the goal feels impossible to achieve, and it decreases your drive to work towards it. In comparison, pushing too hard or past your limits, you might not be able to get long-term success.
Make sure your goals are:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
Many people set unrealistic goals when they’re working out at home because they don’t have a trainer by their side. Work with a trainer online and share your fitness goals. They will give you a detailed plan and make sure you don’t stretch past your limits.
Skipping Warm-Ups and Cool-Downs
We get it — it’s super tempting to start doing a workout immediately after finishing a chore. But skipping warm-ups can be super dangerous. You can sustain an injury, stretch your muscles too far, and even make it hard to train properly.
When your body is properly warmed up, you’re more likely to have a better range of motion. Moreover, those gentle warm-up movements get your blood circulating. This helps deliver essential nutrients to your muslces. The result? Better and faster results.
In addition to warm-ups, cool-downs are also important. You need some sort of activity to ensure healthy post-workout recovery. Here’s a simple cool-down routine:
- Do gentle jogging or walking for 5 minutes. This will help ease your heart rate.
- Do stretching exercises. Focus on major muscle groups you’ve worked on. Hold each stretch for at least 15 seconds. This will help improve flexibility and reduce the risk of injury.
- Do deep breathing. This will relax your muscles, promote blood flow, and clear your mind.
Not Buying Versatile Equipment
This is a big one. Many people set up their home gym with equipment that is of no use to them. They buy anything and everything recommended to them. When you don’t use each of these high-end and super expensive equipment every day, you feel overwhelmed and intimidated.
Instead, invest in versatile and high-quality equipment. Here are some machines you can consider:
- Stack home gyms
- Resistance bands
- Treadmill
- Kettlebells
- Stair machine
- Rowing machine
Not Having a Dedicated Space
Turning your living room into a makeshift gym isn’t a bad thing. But if you’re constantly distracted by noise and people moving around, something needs to change.
This is why it’s important to have a dedicated time and space for working out at home. You can also wear noise-cancelling headphones to block out distractions and get into the zone.