Having a gym in your own home is the ultimate convenience and time-saver. No fighting over equipment, full control over your workouts, travel time eliminated, and best of all, not caring if you literally look like you just got out of bed.

However, there are also some downsides to it. Like less choice of equipment to use, lack of a social element, and sometimes less motivation to train. Here are 10 top tips to make your home workouts even better.

1 - Create a Motivating Environment

Let’s be honest, whether it be working or working-out at home there tends to be more distractions. There’s something to be said for going ‘somewhere’ to do ‘something’ intentional, rather than doing it at home. The best home gyms tend to be those separated from the home environment, like a garage or an outhouse. The second you step foot inside then a switch should be flipped in your brain telling you to get after it. Create as motivating of an environment as you can - A great sound system, motivation quotes on the wall, a Gym Flag hanging up - whatever you want. It’s your own space after all, so make it work.

2 - It Starts With Your Warm-Up

Most will talk about warm-ups as if it’s vital you spend the first 5-20 minutes of every workout on a piece of cardio equipment working up a sweat. While this will “warm you up” and get your heart and blood pumping, it’s not very specific to what your actual workouts are going to look like. Instead, think of your warm-ups like priming the muscles you’re going to be using that day by using movements and mobility exercises that more closely resemble your actual workouts. For example, Spidermans and air squats to stretch out your hips, or opening-up your back on a foam roller before an upper body workout.

3 - Use 'Activation' Exercises

By using low-load “activation” exercises such as those you can perform with just a resistance band then you’re building awareness within those muscles, introducing some resistance, and setting yourself up for more stable joints and stronger lifts later in your workout. As an example, you could perform rear delt pulls using a Mirafit Resistance Band as a way to start off your shoulders workout. Just 2 sets of 12-20 reps on each arm will work.

4 - Use Warm Up Sets

Let’s be honest, the garage gym or gym at the bottom of the garden isn’t the most pleasant place to hang out in the winter. Especially when it’s early and dark outside. Unlike a gym where you might get away with just a warm-up set or two, in minus degree temperatures then you’ll want to take that extra little longer to reach your heavy sets. Termed “ramp” sets, these are the sets you’ll use to gradually ramp-up in weight before you hit your top working sets.

For example, if I tell you to do 3 x 10 reps of squats, then ideally, you’d have done at least a handful of sets to gradually build up the weight before you do your working sets of 3 x 10. Maybe 3-6 sets to get there. Since your efforts are low compared to your working sets then you won’t need to rest as long either, so adding ramp sets shouldn’t take too much more of your time while also helping you get a better workout.

5 - Get Creative With Exercises

Sure, you don’t have the same amount of equipment as a commercial gym, but that doesn’t mean you should be limited for exercise options. Learn to be more creative with the equipment that you have.

6 - Have a Plan

One of the big advantages of having a home gym is that there’s no-one to stop you from sticking with a consistent training plan. Write it down in a training diary or in the notes section of your phone. Keep track of your sets, reps, rest and how much weight you lifted. If you step foot in your gym with a plan, then you won’t have distractions.

7 - Have a Gym Timer on the Wall

Don’t underestimate what a Gym Timer can do for your workouts. Whether it be to track strength-focused rest periods of 3+ minutes, or 60-second rest periods between your biceps curls then using the same rest periods each week will help you track things more accurately so you can see real improvements in strength.

8 - Schedule Your Workouts

With home workouts appearing so easy to fit into your day, it’s also surprisingly easy to skip over them. Once you’ve finished a long day of work the last thing you want to sometimes do it get home, change into your gym gear, and then start your workout. Heading straight to a commercial gym after or just before work just works better for some. To eliminate this “skipping out” mentality then add your workouts to the calendar on your phone. Block out the time and make it non-negotiable.

9 - Get Creative with Cardio

If space is limited then you might not want to be purchasing a rower, a running machine, and a bike. You ‘could’ purchase just one piece of kit such as an air bike which has several ways you could use it. That’s one option. Another option is to use lighter-load resistance exercises and loaded carries as your form of cardio. You can do loaded carries outside in your garden or on your driveway, or even just walking forwards and backwards a handful of meters at a time.

10 - Don't Skip Core Training

It’s often an afterthought or sprinkled in at the backend of your workouts when you’re most fatigued and your reps are going to be sloppy. All you need in your home gym is a mat on the floor to get started.

Home workouts have endless advantages. Using the above tips will help you capitalise and make the most of them to achieve superior results, without battling the crowds of a busy gym.

Written by guest author Gareth Sapstead.

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