Your Distraction-Free Designated Workout Space
If you’re anything like me, then you might find yourself itching to get your workout on whenever and wherever you can. But this doesn’t mean that we should do our workouts anywhere and anytime.
Working out in the living room is probably not a good idea. It may seem like a convenient way to fit more exercise into your day, but it does come with some downsides. Without a doubt, there will be distractions. The TV, the dog, the cat, your annoying brother!
Create a Designated Space and Commit to it
If you want to be successful at working out, you need to make room for it in your life. That may mean giving up a few hours of Netflix binging or trading your daily morning coffee run for a quick jog around the block.
But even if you can’t give up any of your favorite activities, you can still make room for exercise by creating a designated space for your workouts. Designated workout areas are a great way to set yourself up for success and make sure that you are truly making room for your workouts.
Working out in a space that is solely dedicated to exercise will help you to be more intentional with your time and set you up for success. It will also help to eliminate some of the distractions that can take away from your workouts.
Make Your Workout Area Comfortable and Inviting
When you’re setting up your workout area, you should make sure that it is an inviting and comfortable space. If you’re working out in a space that doesn’t feel quite right or isn’t clean, you are more likely to avoid that area and possibly avoid working out at all!
Your workout area should be a place where you can unwind and not worry about the stressors of your day. If your workout space is clean and organized, it’s less likely that you’ll get distracted by messes or disorganization. If your workout area is inviting, it’s much more likely that you’ll actually want to go there.
Don’t Have Any Distractions
As we’ve already discussed, distractions can make working out less likely and less productive. So if you want to make sure that your workouts are successful, aim to eliminate as many distractions as possible.
Make sure that your phone is in airplane mode or that you don’t have any notifications turned on. It’s a good idea to keep your device out of reach so that you don’t find yourself scrolling through Instagram mindlessly while you’re supposed to be resting between sets.
Keeping your phone out of sight can also help you to avoid checking your phone when it’s not appropriate. When you set up your workout space, you can also make sure that you don’t have any distractions nearby by closing the curtains, turning off the TV, and locking the door to keep people out.
Have Your Gear Handy and Ready to Go
If you’re like me, you have the best of intentions when it comes to hitting the gym. But if you don’t have your gear ready to go and ready to take with you, then you’re much more likely to avoid going altogether.
Keep your workout gear in a bag that is easy to carry and that allows you to transport your gear effortlessly. Keeping your gear in an accessible place and ready to go will help to set you up for success and get you to the gym more often.
If you’re not comfortable carrying your gear around with you (or you don’t have a way to transport your gear), then you could also consider keeping your gear at your place of work or at your university.
Lock the Door
This might sound like overkill, but there’s actually a reason to keep your workout area locked whenever you’re working out. Not only does keeping your workout area locked make it easier to avoid distractions and focus on your workouts, but it can also help to protect and maintain your equipment.
You can also have a sign on the door to let people know that you’re in the middle of a workout and would appreciate not being interrupted. Something like “I’m working out right now and would appreciate not being interrupted until …” and a clock with adjustable hands. Or you could use a chalk board with the same message.
Bottom Line
Working out anywhere and anytime comes with a few downsides. If you are trying to workout in your home living room and you are sharing with other people, you can easily be distracted and your workout becomes ineffective.
Creating a designated space for your workouts can help to eliminate some of those distractions. When you set up an area that is comfortable and inviting, you’re more likely to want to exercise in that space.
You can also protect your workout area with a lock so that you can keep your equipment safe. By creating a designated space for your workouts that is free from distraction, you can set yourself up for success and make sure that you are truly making room for your workouts.
