Should You Work Out at Home or Join a Gym?

Home can be Distracting 

While working out from home can save you time and money, you‘re also surrounded by distractions. Whether you need to do the dishes, fold the laundry, or help your child with their homework, any of these distractions could keep you from starting your home workout. And your sofa may just be more appealing than a HIIT workout. If you have a hard time ignoring distractions to get your daily exercise in, home workouts may not be for you. (2)

You’re On Your Own

For some, the solitude and privacy that come with home workouts are appealing. But others need the support and accountability that come with exercising with a community. At home, you won’t be able to see others working hard toward their fitness goals and get motivated by them. If you know that group motivation is important for you, take it into account when deciding between home workouts and a gym membership. (1, 3)

Less Equipment

When you’re exercising at home, you have access to whatever equipment you have available in your living space. If your preferred workouts don’t require much equipment, that’s great. But if you enjoy weight training or using the Pilates Reformer, you might need more than your home workout space has to offer. (1, 2)

Not Sure of What Exercises to Do

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Accountability And Community Are Part Of The Membership

One of the biggest benefits of a gym membership is that it comes with a built-in community. If you’re a competitive person, you’ll probably be motivated by seeing the people around you work toward their goals. And if you’re social by nature, the gym is a great place to make friends with shared interests. Going to the gym can provide a sense of accountability, especially if you participate in a boot camp or personal training package. If you know you need to be around other people to stay motivated to exercise, a gym membership may be the best option for you.      (1, 3)

Equipment Variety

A gym will have more equipment than you have space for at home. If you’re interested in exercise routines that involve specialized equipment or many different weight lifting machines, a gym membership is probably worth it for you. (1)

Support in Trying New Things

Both our bodies and minds need variety to continue growing and developing. So you may find yourself interested in a new type of exercise at some point. At a gym, you’ll have support from fitness professionals to try new forms of exercise so you can safely do them long-term. (1)

Time

Going to the gym is a lot more time-consuming than working out at home simply because of the travel involved. For some people, an extra half hour of driving time isn’t a big deal. But for those who have their day scheduled down to the minute, that travel time may keep them from exercising. If you’re short on time and need to preserve every minute you can, joining a gym may not be your best option. (1)

Crowds

There’s nothing worse than arriving at the gym, getting ready, and seeing that all of the ellipticals are occupied. And it’s even worse in January as everyone is getting started on their New Year’s resolutions. If you’re not a fan of crowds or don’t have time to wait for the machine of your choice, you may want to opt for home workouts instead. (1)

Cost 

For most people, the cost is the biggest deterrent to getting a gym membership. You often get locked into a yearlong contract with monthly charges. And you usually have to pay extra for benefits like personal training and specialty classes. If you’re considering a gym membership, make sure you know about all the fees involved before signing on the dotted line. (1)

Decision Time: Home Workouts vs. Gym Membership

There are pros and cons for both working out at home and joining a gym. So how are you supposed to decide which one is best for you?

For most people, the cost is the first consideration to take into account. If you’re on a strict budget, working out at home is an easy decision. But if you have a more flexible budget, then you have more to think about.

Consider what’s most important to you when it comes to working out. Think about time, equipment, community, privacy, and variety. If you’re low on time and big on privacy, home workouts are your best bet. But if you love working out with a community and prefer using lots of different types of commitments, you’ll probably be more comfortable at a gym.

There’s no wrong answer here. Just take the time to think about what you like best when working out and make the decision that provides the most of those options!

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