Sweat it Out at Home: 6 Expert Tips to Keep Your At-Home Workouts On Fire

After months of gym closures and restrictions across the country, chances are you're used to working out at home by now, or thinking about starting. That said, for many of us, our living spaces are far from ideal workout spaces—but the reality is that at-home workouts aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

Fortunately, with a few simple changes, you can supercharge your home workouts to make them more enjoyable and more effective. Here are some expert tips and tricks:

1. Carve out a designated workout space
Even in the smallest of spaces (like city apartments), it can be helpful to designate a specific space as your home fitness area. Doing this can help you get mentally pumped for your workout. “The best thing you can do is make your space functional and convenient,” says CPT trainer Kekua Kobashigawa. "If you feel clumsy or have trouble getting equipment out or moving furniture, you're less likely to work."

2. Throw open the blinds
Time to brighten up your space. "One of the best ways to enjoy working out at home is to light up the room," says physical therapist Tim Fraticelli. "If you want to improve your mood while working out, consider opening the shades and adding more bright light to your room." While regular exercise has been linked to a number of health-related quality of life improvements, research suggests that adding bright light can increase mood-related benefits.

3. Pump up the jam
Whether you're going for a spin on your home bike or doing an at-home strength training session, high-energy music can make all the difference. “Music can turn an unmotivated mood into a workout-crushing mood in no time,” explains Carrie A. Groff, CPT, trainer with ClassPass. "When you hear a song that gets your head pounding, it makes you want to push for one more rep." It also takes your mind off muscle burn, she adds. So the next time you're tempted to bail on that sweat, turn on one of the many workout playlists on an app like Spotify and see how it affects how you feel.

4. Optimize your time
To work toward your goals for physical activity, choosing a regular "when" can be helpful to stay on track. This will look different for everyone: you can designate a specific hour to work each day, or you can just aim to move in a broad time window (for example, the afternoon before dinner).

5. Move in a way that works for you
If you find yourself dragging yourself through the same exercises every day or dreading the thought of hour-long sessions, remember this: the best kind of activity is the one you truly enjoy, because it's the one you can do consistently.

6. Wear workout clothes you like
You might not be locking eyes with fellow gym goers or breaking a sweat with your workout partner, but wearing clothes you love can fuel your activity. "I know you're not trying to impress people when you're working out at home, but don't you love putting on a workout outfit that makes you feel great before hitting the gym?" asks Zumba instructor Audrey Del Prate, CGFI, CHWC. "If it feels good to you, do it! Every little bit of motivation helps."