Now you may be one of those people who loves gym memberships, and that’s great! But, you also could be one of those people that dreads going to the gym regardless of the positive impacts it has on your mood. I’m the second person. And, if you’re like me, you may be curious as to why I canceled my gym membership.
To be honest, when I am in the swing of things and going to the gym daily, it really isn’t that bad. But the day I get out of my groove, it’s all done for. I get socially awkward when I’m in a new gym, seeing new people, and trying out new workouts. Not to mention, the time I had to carve out of my schedule to beat traffic.
Not a fan.
So this year, I decided to cut ties with my gym membership.
Why cancel your gym membership?
If you’re reading this post, you may be the second person as well. If you have to think about cutting your membership, honestly, you most likely should. I’ve been thinking about cutting mine for a while, but sadly I was roped into a year contract I signed last September.
Once it was up, I deleted it from my budget ~ and here’s why:
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Save your budget
The no-brainer ~ you save money on your monthly budget. My contract was set at about ~ $60 a month, but with taxes and everything else, it came closer to $70. Yet, I was either using it a few times a month or going every day (on the good months). Sadly, there wasn’t an in-between.
Bottom line: My $70 a month fee wasn’t worth it for me to only utilize one my “good months.”
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Stress less
Once the pandemic hit, it really put things into perspective. I noticed I was stressing more about making it out of the office in time, getting the most out of my workouts, and cutting out extra activities just to make it to the gym. The added stress didn’t help my fitness or lifestyle stress when paired with intense workouts. Oddly enough, it actually set me back from reaching my goals.
Bottom line: The added stress of making time for the gym and getting in good workouts actually pushed me farther from my fitness and lifestyle goals.
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Budget your time better
While stress wasn’t benefiting my health results, it wasn’t benefitting my schedule either. Every evening after work, I would have to budget ~ 45 minutes to 1 hour to beat rush hour traffic to get to my gym. Once I got there, I felt like I had to make it worth the drive. That meant working out for at least ~ 1.5 to 2 hours. By the time I made it back home, it would be too late to have dinner, and way past my bedtime.
Bottom line: It also wasn’t worth the 3 to 4-hour scheduled time-block every day.
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Workout whenever you can
Now, I will get into what workouts I do post-gym membership below. But, what I do is easier on my budget and schedule. I’m able to do workouts whenever I have the extra time. Lunch hour? Great. Only have 1 hour before dinner plans? Awesome. Not only are you able to do them pretty much whenever you want, but you’re also able to cut some slack ~ no more guilt from not getting in your daily workout.
Bottom line: It wasn’t worth the pressure I put on myself every time I didn’t have the time or energy to go to the gym.
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Cut the judgment
Socially *awkward* me ~ going to the gym is like putting myself out there. Whether you’re actually being looked at or not, there’s always the thought that you are. If you drop a weight or don’t know how to work a machine properly, it can be embarrassing (or maybe I just overthink everything). When I do my workouts at home, I don’t have to worry about breathing quiet or doing everything right BECAUSE IT’S ONLY ME IN THE ROOM.
Bottom line: I don’t always know what I’m doing in the gym, so I’d rather embarrass myself in the comfort of my own company.
What do I do every day instead?
There are many different options I have instead ~ and a lot are *free*. For instance, I watch YouTube video workouts that I’m able to complete at home on my lunch break. I also create my own workouts or reference purchased guides that plan workouts for me. Even though guides can come with an upfront cost, you’re able to use them year after year without any additional fees (in most cases). The list below shows my top picks:
- Sarah’s Day Sweat it to Shred it workout guide
- Sarah’s Day Reboot guide (I have both)
- Sezzy Timer app ~ Sarah’s Day (I use this for the guide or for my own workouts)
- Fav YouTube pilates instructor
- Fav YouTube yoga instructor
- Fav YouTube (various different) workouts instructor
One time workout investments
To conclude, you may want some added tools for this simple practice. Over time, I’ve started to accumulate workout gear that lasts and only costs me one fee. From ankle weights to body bands and rollers, there are some pieces that could suit you.
To make your home workouts as comfortable as possible, invest in the things that could put your fitness to the test. That could be weights, bands, or even a water bottle to ensure you’re drinking enough water. Below are my favorite finds that I have (or want to have) in my home workout toolbox.
Once you start working out from home, you may start noticing the luxury of simplicity. For me, making this switched motivated me to keep it going and reach for my fitness goals once again.
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