2020 has brought a host of changes and challenges to virtually everyone. Just one of the many changes is how many people are now working from home and, with gyms and other regular exercise outlets being closed or only open in a limited capacity, people are also working out at home.  While some very fortunate folks may have already set up home gyms, yoga rooms, or other home-based exercise rooms, most people have been forced to come up with solutions for getting him home workouts to replace what they are used to doing at a gym.

First and foremost, simply not being able to go to the gym should not be an excuse for stopping a regular workout schedule that you had in place previously (like back in 2019).  It’s easy to use it as an excuse to not work out, but we all know how easy it is to lose a habit like exercising.  Even the most dedicated workout warriors are susceptible to falling off the wagon (I know from personal experience).  So, don’t use the inability to maintain the workout routine you have come to know and love as an excuse for sitting on the couch eating chips and binging the entire series of Marvel movies night after night.

Once you commit to figuring out some kind of workouts you can do at home, it’s time to figure out what exercises you can do and what home gym equipment you might need.  While it would be amazing for all of us to buy gym-quality workout equipment, most of us don’t have the spare cash or space to actually create a full gym at home.  But, that’s fine!  You can actually put together a solidly functional home gym with only a few key pieces of equipment that won’t take up too much space or break the bank.

Here are a few key pieces of home gym equipment you might want to consider.

• Exercise Bands - These are typically made from rubber tubing or bungee cord material and either come with handles pre-attached or the ability to attach different handles to one or more bands to adjust the resistance. When added to a door attachment (which is included in many exercise band products) these can turn into incredibly versatile pieces of equipment that can be used to enhance a wide range of exercises like squats, chest flys, chest press, bicep curls, front raises or triceps extensions, just to name a few.

• Stability Ball - While people now think of these as alternative desk chairs, they are indeed great fitness tools.  Along with being useful for any number of abdominal crunches, you can also perform a variety of other exercises with them like a chest press or flys.  

• Dumbbells - Dumbbells are a fantastic addition to any home gym. While you can simply purchase a variety of different weights, if you want a real range of options, consider some of the adjustable weight options, where you can actually dial in the specific weight of each dumbbell. It’s likely cheaper to buy one of these sets of adjustable dumbbells than to purchase every weight you might need.  Plus, storage is a breeze, since it is really just one pair of dumbbells.

• Kettlebells - These have gained a lot of popularity in recent years and they can be very useful in all kinds of exercises.  Like dumbbells, buying too many different weights can become expensive and take up a lot of space.  There are some adjustable kettlebell products out there that could be worth a look to solve this problem.

• Workout Bench - While an adjustable bench where you can change the incline is great, even a flat bench is a nice piece of equipment to incorporate into numerous exercises.  You can certainly use a solid chair or another sturdy piece of furniture, but a dedicated workout bench will give you both great stability and a solid base that you don’t have to worry about collapsing if you’re using heavier weights.

This is certainly not an exhaustive list and it doesn’t include a lot of equipment you might want for a variety of specific exercises or workouts.  But, it does provide a solid base to complete a bunch of different workout routines.