The pandemic changed how we view our homes. During the lockdown, millions had to remain indoors for long periods, including the summer of 2020, when COVID-19 hit hardest. With bars closed, gyms shut until further notice, and parks off-limits for many, it was trying times, especially for those living in a block of flats without access to a garden or other private outdoor space. The novelty of being at home without work, watching movies, playing at the betting apps Florida offers, and taking afternoon naps soon wore thin.
As time passed and it became apparent we were in the grips of a long-term pandemic, people’s attitudes began to change. They realized too much time at home wasn’t great for their physical and mental fitness, and many experts believe the nationwide lockdowns caused more harm to the population than the disease ever could. People had to act, finding any way to break up the day and change the scenery.
Those able to work from home were required to do so, meaning more long-term solutions were needed to replace the makeshift kitchen office. For months, contractors and laborers weren’t allowed to visit other people’s homes due to the risk of spreading infection, meaning jobs either piled up or people had to learn new skills, like construction, design, or basic DIY. The result was some imaginative offices.
Realization Hits Home
Citizens were permitted to leave their homes once daily to walk or do some much-needed exercise. It was essential to keep as active as possible within the rules to protect mental-wellbeing and build fitness to help fight off the coronavirus. With the working-from-home situation sorted thanks to makeshift home offices, attention turned to replacing the gyms and workout centers closed nationwide.
At a time when people needed gyms the most, buildings lay empty with the shutters pulled down on businesses for months. The hope of lockdown ending soon and the rules against mass public gatherings faded, causing many of us to seek alternatives. Some began walking many miles, building muscle and fitness while enjoying a welcome change of scenery. Others took up distance running, pounding the streets and recording their times.
You may remember the popular trend of running 5k during lockdown and posting times on social media. We witnessed some fantastic efforts, but you may have been surprised by the number of professional-level athletes amongst us. Remember Britney Spears smashing 100m sprint records or the young girl that broke the Olympic record time for a 5k on her day off before nominating five friends to do the same? It was comedy gold.
Others prepared to fly under the radar and keep their training private. They transformed garden spaces or spare rooms into home gymnasiums, but some were better than others. Sales of dumbells, free weights, punchbags, and other training equipment went through the roof, dragging the price up. We saw many expensively fancy home gymnasiums with pools, treadmills, and exercise equipment. But most proved to be overkill and a waste of time and money.
We learned from the record-breaking 5k phase of lockdown that people’s desire to keep fit and active never wanes, even when faced with the threat of contracting a dangerous disease during a public emergency. We also discovered building a home gym was easier and cheaper than ever. And in this article, we share our findings. Keep reading for ideas on building a home gym within a modest budget.
Use the Space
Your first job is finding a suitable space for your home gym. Do you have the weather to work outside in the garden, or must your gymnasium be indoors? When you have answered that question, the next assignment is finding a suitable space. A car garage provides the perfect home gymnasium, closely followed by a spare room downstairs.
Locating the appropriate area lets you know what you’re working with, but it can also be a pop-up gym. Keep it simple with a yoga mat and a few dumbbells. You don’t need much else to get started, and you can stick what you need in a cupboard when not training, then take it out before your next session. No need for any construction or fancy equipment. Sometimes, the most obvious solution is the best.
A popular misconception in training and fitness is that you need the latest and best sports equipment to get fit, but that’s not true. You don’t even need a gym membership. Jump rope to build stamina, punch the bag for speed and lift weights for strength. The required equipment would fit in a box under the stairs.
Remember when Rocky Balboa is in training for the dangerous Russian opponent Ivan Drago in Rocky IV? Yes, it’s a movie, but it teaches a valuable point. While Drago trains with the latest, scientifically tested equipment that measures his speed and punch power, Rocky is digging snow and cutting down trees in the mountains.
You can train much closer to nature than the fitness industry wants you to know.
Boxing Bag
A punching bag is a great and inexpensive way to start training at home. Find the space, screw a bracket into the ceiling, hang the bag, and punch away. Build your stamina, learn new punches, shred weight, and more.
The heavy boxing bag has many benefits and is a fun way to get in shape and stay there. Cheap, easy to use, set up, and take down in seconds. It’s a gem for keep-fitters. Purchase a heavy bag, bracket, hand wraps, and gloves.
Jumping Rope
All you need to get fit is an old rope. Jumping rope or skipping has been proven to be a more efficient and safer way to get healthy than running long distances. It’s easier on your joints, safer, and helps you get a sweat on quickly.
You don’t need a large space to jump rope. A small corner of your home or garden is enough. The harder you work, the more you’ll sweat, burn calories and lose weight.
