If you’re leading a fitness lifestyle, chances are you’ve come across the question if you should workout at home or join a gym. This is a difficult question to answer as there are many different factors to consider including motivation, cost, and comfort. Here are some advantages and disadvantages to both, so you can weigh your options.
Cost
At the beginning of the year, gyms have deals on memberships, but you can always stream workout sites for more affordable options. Home gyms are usually more cost-effective as you’re investing in products like free weights or treadmills that can be used over time.
Comfort
Anyone who’s new to the gym knows how intimidating walking into the gym for the first time can be. You may feel more confident going to the gym if you’ve already started working out at home.
Equipment
If you’re looking to use a lot of equipment especially cardio machines like ellipticals, rowing machines, and stair masters, gyms are a better option. Just make sure you hit the gym at a time when it’s not too crowded.
Scheduling
Between travel time, parking, and waiting for machines, the hour you hope to spend at the gym can quickly turn into almost two hours. Home workouts are better if you have a tight schedule and you’re worried about finding time to exercise.
Motivation
By spending the money on a gym membership, it may increase your motivation to go to the gym. There are lots of distractions at home that make it hard to get the most out of your workout or even workout at all.
