You’ve been told time and again that a workout is the same whether you do it in a gym, outside, or at home. Still, you seem to notice that for some reason, when you’re at home and left to your own devices that working out doesn’t seem to produce the same results.

“Exercise isn’t an exact science, think different strokes for different folks. But one fact rings true: Something is better than nothing. A healthy exercise habit should blend fun and fitness, effort with results.” – Greatist

The truth is that the secret to effective exercise is not where it is done or even how it is done, but it involves how you view the exercise that needs to be done. Here are a few suggestions to help you change your attitude towards to workouts at home when no one else is watching you.

Just Do It

When it comes to meeting your fitness goals there is no middle ground. If you don’t workout then you won’t improve. If you are committed to working out then you will work out. Start with making a 30-day change in your routine. If it is every Monday you plan to do your at home workout then make sure that that schedule is a priority. When a trainer or even your buddies at the gym are not monitoring you, it is easy to let other things get in the way. However, if you’re committed to getting your workout in no matter what, you’re more likely to succeed.

Respect Your Schedule

It takes time to build up a routine and this requires careful planning as we know it can be hard to find time. Decide on the days and time of your workout routine and stick to it. If you decide to do this first thing in the morning then don’t hit the snooze button and roll over until you don’t have enough time to squeeze it in. If you’ve thought enough of your workouts to schedule it, respect the importance of it just as you would your doctor’s or hair appointment. Don’t let anything get in your way and you’ll soon discover that you’ll be looking forward to your at home routine.

Monitor Your Progress

Avoid the pitfalls of doing the same old routine every day. Your muscle memory will soon kick in and you’ll plateau. If you monitor your progress on a regular basis you’ll soon recognize when your efforts are no longer producing results and you can shift to another routine to shake things up a bit. If you keep careful notes about your progresses, challenges, and routines you can use them to create new workouts for yourself and keep continuously challenging yourself in the process.

Never Forget to Warm Up

Since you’ll most likely be alone with your at home workout, care in your routine is more important than ever. To avoid painful injuries or accidents from happening make sure that you always warm up before jumping full blast into your workout. An effective warm up should be a part of every workout you do. Choose warm ups that fit with the exercises you plan to do. They will prepare your body for the work ahead by supplying needed oxygen to the muscles so its there when you need it.

Watch Your Form

This may be one of the biggest challenges that an at home workout can have. You’ll have to be your own trainer by watching your form as you execute certain moves. This may require you to install mirrors so that you can see your body at every angle to make sure that the moves are done right. Proper form is essential for protecting yourself from injury and for getting the best results out of each of your workouts. You can also ask family and friends to come by and help you spot your weak areas. With this method you also get a workout buddy to help keep off the boredom of working out by yourself.

Maintaining a positive attitude when you’re working out at home can be a major challenge, however, if you keep focusing on your main goal of getting fit and have the proper mindset you are sure to find amazing success at the end of the road.

“Workouts should be more than simply killing time at the gym. To make progress on a continual basis, exercise programs need to be tweaked regularly. Boost motivation and results with this action plan to hacking your exercise routine.” – Fit Day

Learning how to stay in shape at home can be difficult for many. However, it is possible with the right mindset to keep you motivated!