We’re all busy. In fact, many of us become so busy that we unintentionally neglect our gym memberships simply because we’re too exhausted after a full day to drive the extra mile to a facility. It gets like that sometimes — trust me, I know. But what a complete waste of money! We also cannot make excuses and let our health take a downward spiral, which is why it’s time we figured out a way to get our workouts in no matter how hectic life gets.  One perfect solution to staying on top of our fitness goals is to create an at-home gym or workout corner. That way, you can really work out on your own time and from the comfort of your home. Just think about those moments when you’re in a time crunch or have small children that you can’t step away from for that hour-long workout. Investing in a DIY home workout spot is totally possible, no matter the space restrictions. Although not necessary, for more advanced home gyms, you might eventually choose to purchase the treadmill or stationary bike if you have the proper space. But you can certainly do a lot with very little. Traditional workout equipment can be really expensive, which is why slowly stocking up for your home gym is the way to go. For larger pieces of equipment (i.e., treadmill, elliptical), you may want to visit your local area thrift store to see if you come across any low-priced hidden gems.

CLOTHING

We cannot talk about the types of equipment you can purchase for your DIY home workout space without first mentioning how important it is to invest in the proper workout attire.

Now that we’ve gotten that out the way…interested in creating an at-home gym? Here are some starter fitness essentials to help get you back on the healthy track:

YOGA OR GYM MATS

Great for preventing slips and stretching. They also protect your home floors while you put in work burning calories.

KETTLEBELLS

Compact and very effective in toning the arms. Kettlebell swings anyone?

JUMP ROPE

Very compact and an excellent way to get in quick cardio and increase your heart rate.

LARGE MEDICINE BALL

There are so many exercises you can do on a medicine ball, such as crunches or push-ups.

RESISTANCE BANDS

Wonderful for lunges and making your muscles work a bit harder.

STEP(S)

Steps are usually adjustable for height and make for a nice cardio session. If you do enough high-knee raises on this, you’ll see amazing results.

WEIGHTED MEDICINE BALL

Many have a love-hate relationship with these, but you’ll thank yourself for having one handy because they help you complete the best ab workouts. A good starting point is 5-10 pounds weight.

FOAM ROLLER

Your sore muscles will love this! After each workout, it’s important to stretch and massage your tight areas. That’s exactly what a foam roller does.

Try not to focus too much on equipment needs and let your body do the work – crunches, running, squats and push-ups are free. The equipment can just enhance your experience.