Has your commitment to remaining physically active this new year already failed? If you’re feeling down about neglecting your resolution, you should know that you’re likely not the only one. It’s likely that a number of people all around the world have already given up on their resolution as well as a result of lack of time or motivation. In fact, the number one excuse for not exercising in adults is the lack of time. Despite all of this, even if you managed to find the time to exercise, it’s likely that the gyms in your area are still closed as a result of lockdown restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic. Even if they were open today, would you feel comfortable going and exercising there? What many people have done as a result of all this, in an attempt to remain physically active throughout these lockdown restrictions, is transforming their home garage into a gym space.
If this has piqued your interest, give your garage a glance and see if you think the amount of space you’d need to exercise more frequently is available. If you happen to live in a warmer climate, there’s a chance your garage isn’t fully utilized and can provide ample space to facilitate a home gym. However, if you’re living in a colder climate, you may find yourself with less space to work with. Regardless, designating a part of the garage as a gym space and leaving the rest for storage and your vehicles is still an effective strategy.
Prior to transforming your garage into an at-home facility, consider these following questions:
How much are you willing to spend? Financing this sort of project can be demanding depending on a few factors. Perhaps your garage needs renovations to provide the perfect amount of space. Or maybe you need to invest in a few pieces of equipment to get the most out of your exercise routine. Whatever the case may be, you’re likely going to need to invest in a transformation like this, so determining how much you’re willing to spend is always the first question to consider.
How much space is actually available? Building off the previous question, you’ll need to assess if your garage provides enough space (prior to a renovation or after) to get what you expect out of it. If you’re living in a colder climate and your garage houses a few of your family’s vehicles, this may become more challenging. Don’t feel discouraged, though. If you’re willing enough, any amount of space can produce fitness results with enough effort.
What other purposes does your garage currently serve? If your garage is like many others around the world, it’s likely that it serves as a storage space for a number of items and appliances. Perhaps a spare fridge occupies some of the space, or a number of holiday decorations, maybe even various lawn tools. Whatever the case may be, consider how you can maximize the space you have available to you. One effective method of maximizing your garage space is through investing in overhead storage racks that can reduce the clutter found around the garage.
What types of equipment will you use? The final question to consider, and likely the most important. This ties in with the first question of how much you’re willing to invest in this transformation. If you already own some type of fitness equipment, you’re further ahead than most. However, if you don’t own any sort of fitness equipment, you’ll need to consider what type of equipment your garage gym will include. If you’re looking to burn away fat, consider if you’re able to fund a treadmill or elliptical for your garage. If you’re looking to build muscle with Full body exercises, take a look at how much money a new or used weight bench or Smith machine would run you. If you’re trying to keep spending to a minimum, free weights and resistance bands are relatively inexpensive, and are great at targeting a number of muscle groups while not taking up much space. Find what works best for you.
All in all, this is a great starting approach to transforming your garage into a home gym. In order to make sure you’re getting the most out of your investment, consider these questions and begin your fitness journey without hesitation. For more information on garage transformations, check out the infographic below. Courtesy of Good Garage.
