COVID19 is on the retreat. The battle isn’t over, but it’s steadily being won. That means gyms are open again. That means it’s decision time for people who’ve been working out at home (or not working out at all). Are you heading back to the gym, or are you committing to working out at home over the long term? Here are some points to consider.

Your support network

In a gym, there’s generally always somebody around to answer any questions you might have. Often there are several other people around together with staff. This means that your workout sessions can double as fitness-education sessions.

At home, you may be on your own or with friends or family. You are, however, unlikely to have the same number of people actually physically present with you. In many cases, you’ll be able to get the help you need on the internet. No matter what time of day it is, you can always find someone to talk about anything fitness related from kettlebells to Insane Labz supplements.

What you probably won’t get as easily is personalized feedback on your performance based on first-hand observation. That said, a growing number of personal trainers now offer online sessions. You would just need to make sure you had the necessary audiovisual equipment and internet connectivity to handle them.

Your workout space

For the last year or so, home (and outdoor) workouts have basically been the only option. Now, you need to start thinking about how your home workout space compares to going (back) to the gym.

If you’re the kind of person who wants, even needs, to keep varying your exercise routine, then the gym is likely to be a clear winner. It will have a lot more equipment than the average home. In particular, most gyms are likely to have a lot more options for strength training. Some gyms may also offer a lot more space for cardio workouts.

On the other hand, you may be quite happy with the exercise options available to you at home. If so, then move on to thinking about the practicalities of the space itself. Is it well-lit and well-ventilated?

Possibly most importantly of all, can you exercise regularly without disturbing your family, friends, and neighbors. Remember, people may be happy to cut you some slack when home exercising is your only option. They may be less happy about any noise you make when they know that gyms are open again.

Your budget

Strange as it may seem, exercising at home is not necessarily more affordable than going to a gym. It all depends on what you want. Are you happy to stick to a small range of equipment and exercise on your own? If you are, then, yes, home workouts can be much more economical than even a budget gym.

If, however, you want more equipment and/or virtual classes, then you can easily end up paying as much to exercise at home as you would to exercise in a gym. In principle, you will pay off the cost of the equipment over time. In practice, your equipment will also age. As it does, it will need to be repaired, upgraded, and eventually replaced. This will, of course, mean a new set of costs.