When it comes to exercising, everyone has their preferences. Some people like to weight lift, others like Pilates. Some focus on legs, some on arms. Whether its calisthenics, jogging, or yoga, everyone exercises differently for what their body needs. When it comes to where they exercise, that can differ as well.
Exercise is good for us, no matter where we do it. Our bodies need movement and stimulation, and wherever that occurs, it’s up to our personal choices. But if you’re on the fence about getting a gym membership or wanting to see what exercising at home is like, this article might help you decide! Let’s run through the pros and cons of exercising at the gym vs. at home to see what might work for you.
Gym – Pros
Atmosphere
There’s a reason why gyms are popular. There’s something about being in a distraction free area surrounded by other people exercising that just gets you in the zone for your work out. Whenever I step foot inside, it’s like I’m mentally preparing myself for the activities ahead. It feels like the outside world doesn’t exist, and exercise is the only thing I have to focus on.
The gym atmosphere is something home doesn’t have. Unless you have your own personal gym or room set aside for your workout, your house isn’t going to feel the same as a gym. It can be hard to carve out a specific space dedicated to exercise, and even easier to give up early and scroll on your phone. Sometimes being in a separate space designed for exercise can help you feel motivated to keep going.
More equipment
The gym is designed as a space for people to exercise, meaning it has a lot of equipment. Whatever part of your body you’re working on, there’s a machine for it at the gym. If you’re looking for a variety of weights to use, the gym will have them. Treadmills? Step Masters? Ellipticals? Yeah, all there at the gym.
Unless you already own a treadmill, it’s unlikely that you’ll get the same experience at home than at the gym. If you’re trying to target your legs or work up to lifting a heavier weight, you probably won’t go at it the same at home than you would the gym. It can be incredibly helpful to have those tools and machines at your disposal, without feeling like you need to go out and buy the equipment on your own.
Gym – Cons
Expenses
It’s no secret that gyms cost money. You don’t get to use all the equipment for free. Sometimes the monthly fee can be worth it and put to good use, but if you end up forgetting about your membership, that’s just money down the drain.
Too often people don’t use their membership, leading them to keep paying for something they don’t even touch. If you’re on a budget or trying to cut down on pointless spending, really make sure you’ll commit to going to the gym. If you’re not totally sure you’ll go, maybe exercise from home and think about getting that membership a little later. You don’t want to end up wasting money for no reason.
Added travel time
Unless you live right next door, it’s likely you’re going to have to drive to the gym. Sometimes it can be nice to have time carved out to hype yourself up for the workout ahead, but at the end of the day, driving still takes up time. Commuting to the gym means less time spent elsewhere.
Blocking out time in your schedule can be tricky, especially if you’ve already got a full load. While a 15 minute drive might not seem like a deal, when you add up the travel time, it can be longer than we realize. If you’re someone with a busy schedule, the travel time to the gym can feel like an added expense you don’t want to pay.
At Home – Pros
Privacy
If you’re anything like me, when in public, I tend to be hyper aware of the people around me. I can’t help it, I just focus too much on how I am being perceived by others. In the gym, it’s no different. With so many strangers around, all working on themselves, it can be hard to focus on yourself and not what other people think.
When you’re at home, you don’t have to worry about strangers watching you exercise. You’re completely alone, able to struggle through a pushup or shake your way through a squat without someone else witnessing it. It can be nice to work on your body without other people present. If you feel the same way about strangers, working out at home might be more in your comfort zone.
Easy to schedule
Working out at home can be a very convenient alternative. Planning out times to go to the gym can feel overwhelming and unrealistic if you’ve got a chaotic schedule. Instead of worrying about when you’re free to go to the gym, working out at home might be the better option.
What I like about exercising at home is I can do it any time. Those awkward gaps of time where I don’t have anything going on can be filled with a quick Pilates video. If I’m having an off day but still want to get a work out in, I don’t have to worry about leaving the house and being in public, but I can go for a walk around my neighborhood. For convenience, working out at home is a great choice.
At Home – Cons
Interruptions
If you have pets, kids, or other members in your household, exercising at home can be a bit trickier sometimes. Whenever I queue up a video, my dog suddenly needs to go outside or my sister needs help with homework. It can be hard to get into the zone when your door is always being opened.
While the gym is designed to be free of distractions, working out at home doesn’t offer the same experience. If you’re not bothered by stopping and starting your work out, then this shouldn’t be an issue. But for me, and a lot of people, the constant interruptions can disrupt the flow and make the exercise feel a lot longer than it should be.
Less resources
It’s unlikely that you’ll have your own home gym. If you do, that’s impressive, but not everyone can say the same. At home, you have to get a bit more creative with what you do or use. I’m a fan of exercise videos on YouTube, but there will be times when I don’t have the right weights to use. Most of the time it’s okay but there are times when I’d prefer to have the resources the gym offer.
The gym offers a wide array of equipment and resources to user, and when you work out at home, you have to be the one to come up with those same options. Guided YouTube videos are great, but they’re not the same as a yoga class. There’s a reason gyms are so popular, for they really do offer a lot that can’t always be replicated at home.
Let’s run it back…
Whether you feel more comfortable at the gym or at home, your exercise journey is your own! There are pros and cons to either option, but at the end of the day, where you exercise is truly up to you. I hope this article shed some light on the good and bad sides to the gym and home. As long as you’re staying active, it doesn’t matter where you exercise!
If you’d like to hear from other people who have also debated which place is better to work out in, read this Reddit thread!
