Being as healthy as possible is at the forefront of most peoples’ minds, but there isn’t always enough time in the day to get to the gym for a Pilates class or treadmill session. Sometimes, the desire to work out without a crowd of onlookers is enough to make many people skip going to the gym. However, with a few additions to the home, most people can find a way to be more fit and exercise in the privacy of their own house. Here are 4 ideas for ways to make working out at home easier and more accessible.

Invest in a home gym

Why go to the gym when the gym can come to you? Any spare space in the home can easily be made into a home gym. It could be as simple as a few weights on a bench in the corner of the guest bedroom or as elaborate as transforming the garage into a personal workout room. Buying a treadmill or weight machines for the home can be costly, but compare that to the privacy of working in one’s own home and the cost of a yearly gym membership. The whole family can benefit from the addition of a private home gym and the fact that the workout area can be personalized makes it that much more motivating to go work out. Even investing in a few small weights, a pull-up bar or even a small trampoline can add incentive to working out more often.

Make cooking at home fun

Many people view cooking as a tedious chore, but there are great benefits to planning meals and preparing them at home. Being able to keep track of calorie count and being less likely to snack on pre-packaged fast food is one of them, as well as being more likely to make health conscious meal choices. Upgrading a kitchen to include new appliances and cookware can make a difference to the home cook, making meal planning and preparation far easier and more satisfying than before.

Add a swimming pool

Swimming is an activity that the whole family can enjoy and if there’s space on the property, the addition of a swimming pool can be a great resource for getting fit. Not only can having a pool provide an easily accessible and fun way to get a full body workout, a pool is a great place to relax and unwind after a stressful work day or intense exercise program. There are many options for an affordable home pool to be added to the home, including DIY above ground pools, or in ground swimming pools installed by a professional swimming pool builder.

Grow a kitchen garden

Like cooking and pre-planning meals, having a garden to grow seasonal, organic produce is a great way to adjust a diet to stay fit and healthy. Besides having fresh vegetables and herbs to use in the kitchen, tending a garden is a great way to get a workout. Growing new vegetables and fruit to try can increase interest in new dishes that are healthier than usual calorie-heavy meals. The addition of a small garden in the backyard will increase the chance of using wholesome food to prepare meals at home rather than preparing pre-packaged fast meals or going out to eat.

With a few simple additions like the ones listed above, any home can become a place to work out and lead a healthier life. Implementing even just one of these changes (or even part of one) will make fitness an attainable goal.