Sometimes motivating yourself to be consistent at the gym can be hard. It isn’t for everyone, and it seems SO easy to make a million excuses for why you shouldn’t go. So today we’ll be talking about the best exercises to do when you hate the gym.
Just because you don’t go to the gym, doesn’t mean you’re not exercising! Exercise can be found in so many different activities. I want to cover my personal favorites and some of the most popular activities that will keep you in shape and fit!
The activities that I’m going to cover today are fun, affordable, easy, and time efficient. No matter what your situation is, I’m sure we’ll talk about exercises that YOU can make work for yourself. That’s how fitness should be!
How do you enjoy working out when you hate it?
I believe that the answer is simple.
It’s important to find these that work for you! Some people love the gym, even find refuge in it. However, there are millions of people for whom it does not work for. Finding activities that work for you can make a WORLD of a difference.
Figure it out for yourself! Explore your options and find out what makes you passionate about your own fitness and health. Along the way, you will be able to find exercises and routines that are easier to incorporate into your own life. It will help you to make your fitness a priority.
Keep in mind, if you want to achieve very specific fitness goals, you might have to alter your routines to match your goals! It’s all just about what you are striving for.
Easy as pie!
This post is ALL about the best exercises to do when you hate the gym!
Hopefully, by the end of this post, you will have an idea of steps you can take to move along in your wellness journey. Let’s get started.
Use youtube & the internet
Using the tools around you can be SO beneficial when it comes to your personal fitness journey. There are thousands of videos and blog posts that are filled with workouts that you can easily do from the comfort of your home…even from your bedroom!
For me, my fitness journey definitely started with at-home workouts, and they did quite a lot for me! I was able to start feeling confident while not having to put myself in an environment that I wasn’t ready for at the time. The gym can be intimidating, so why not try working out from home sometimes?
I would recommend adding some sort of weight to some of your workouts just so you can begin strength training. A lot of YouTubers will encourage the use of things like water bottles for weights, which is SUPER easy!
There are also SO many forms of exercise online. You can choose from dance, yoga, body weight, kickboxing, HIIT, and high fitness workouts! It’s also possible to choose your own intensity, the length, of the workout, and you can find influencers who you connect with.
So go look up some workouts and get to it right from home!
Yoga
I feel like yoga is rarely seen as an activity that can get your heart rate up and your blood pumping. But truly, there are SO many different yoga practices with so many different benefits.
Yoga is also a great option for people who don’t want the intensity of strength training or cardio. It is softer on the body and leaves you feeling super energized and refreshed.
However, it is also versatile! There are more intense yoga flows, and there are easier ones. The beauty is that you can decide what feels best for your body.
Yoga is also super accessible. There are yoga studios mostly everywhere, but you can also do it from the internet. You can even find apps that are filled with thousands of yoga flows. I think this is an AMAZING option for people who don’t have a lot of time in their day or a lot of money to spend on their fitness.
Not only is yoga great for your body, but it’s also great for your mind! It can help calm anxiety, ease stress, and leave you feeling ready for the days ahead of you. Everyone should try yoga out!
Swimming
Swimming is a truly underrated form of exercise! I think I can say I’m guilty of not realizing how much of a workout you can get from swimming for just a little amount of time.
It’s perfect for those who don’t want to strain their bodies too much as it’s super easy and soft on joints. Not to mention, it’s super fun! I’m not an amazing swimmer by any means, but I find it so fun to do leisurely.
It’s so great for strengthening your body and there’s nothing quite as peaceful as being underwater, is there? I’d definitely give it a try.
Go outside!
I’m keeping this very vague because there are SO many things to do outdoors. Some of my favorites are hiking, biking, rock-climbing, snow-shoeing…there are SO many options. I also love that there are different activities to try based on the season AND based on where you’re living.
Outdoor activities will not only make you stronger, but they are amazing for our mental health! Getting a breath of fresh air can completely turn a stressful day around and make the bad seem a little better.
It’s also way more fun than indoor workouts! Being able to immerse yourself in nature will ALWAYS be a fun time. You will never regret going outside. There are such pretty views to see and so much nature to explore. This sounds SO cheesy…but I stand by what I’m saying.
Even if it’s just a 15-minute walk outside, getting yourself out there can change your mood and your fitness!
Go for a walk
WALKING IS THE BEST! Hands down, I have some of the most fun when I go on walks.
They are the perfect workout for days when you don’t feel like pushing your body to its limits. I LOVE running, but I don’t prefer to be straining my body with it every day. I love walks because they make it SO easy to get movement in your day!
Just turn on your favorite podcast and have a relaxing walk around and get some nature into your day…it’s fun and so worth it! If you’re looking for some podcast recommendations, I also post them almost daily over on Instagram! Here’s the link: https://www.instagram.com/xojacilynn/
Dance!
You’re just going to have to hear me out on this one…dancing is for everyone and it’s so much fun! Even if you don’t consider yourself a great dancer, it’s never too late to start, and from the comfort of your home, there’s no need to feel pressure or embarrassment.
Dancing is great for improving your endurance, coordination, and overall health! There are so many benefits to using this form of exercise.
You can improvise or learn different combos too! There are quite a few platforms that are made to help you easily learn routines and make you really break a sweat.
My favorite app to get routines from is Steezy …I find that their routines are really fun, modern, and make exercising so much fun for me. The teachers walk you through everything and then run through it. You can also just rewind the videos if you get lost, so it is genuinely so easy and just a great time. If you want to try it out, click here!
You can also use Youtube and other platforms to start! So many options…
This post just walked you through the BEST exercises to do when you hate the gym. I hope that you will be able to incorporate a few of these workouts into your own routine. I’ll guarantee you this, you WON’t regret it.
Keep in mind that prioritizing your fitness is prioritizing yourself. It improves your mental and physical health. You will be happier, live longer, and love life so much more! Fitness can sound like a scary word, but if you’re making it work for you and not others, then it will be sustainable and easier.
With that being said, I hope that you are inspired by this post to get going and get moving! By just reading this post, you can be sure that you are wanting to continue growing to become your highest self. I am so proud of you.
Have an amazing day, and I’m sending so much love to you! You’re doing your best, take a deep breath, and keep on doing amazing!
Here’s the link to my post prior! I talked all about the best journal prompts for self-reflection. Click here to read!
XO,
Jaci Lynn
