Want to Start Working Out, but Don't Know What to Do? These 10 At-Home Tips Can Help

Starting an effective home workout routine is not as easy as turning on a video or purchasing a shiny new piece of workout equipment, George Foreman III, a boxing coach and founder of EverybodyFights in Boston, told POPSUGAR.

"If you really want to succeed with a long-term program, start with a small commitment to something you can do anywhere," he said. "Build this small commitment into your morning and evening routines, right before something you would never start your morning or go to sleep without doing." For example, every morning and evening before brushing your teeth, perform 20 push-ups and 20 squats. "Eventually your body will crave the activity and it will be hard to start and end your day without it," Foreman said.

Once you're in the habit of exercising at home every day, it can really help you to designate a small space in your home to get in the mindset of continuing this habit. In addition to storing your fitness equipment in this area, you can make the space your own workout haven by painting the room a different color or even simply posting a print-out with your favorite motivational quote on the wall, Foreman told POPSUGAR.

If you're not familiar with exercising but want to work out regularly at home, there are tons of awesome online videos to help you get started. "You can find videos that will take you through yoga, HIIT, postpartum toning, strength training and more with very minimal equipment," Victoria Nolan, a certified personal trainer at Suite Time Fitness in Houston, told POPSUGAR. "These videos will take you through a warm up and a cool down routine that you may be more likely to skip if yo were to do it solo." POPSUGAR has a ton of videos to pick from.

For many people, the idea of letting someone down is enough to keep them from breaking their workout plans. So be consistent in making workout plans with a friend or trainer to come workout with you at home. Similarly, even committing to home workouts with online trainers can prove to do the trick and inspire you to say consistent, Foreman said.

You'd be surprised at how buying a few pieces of gear (such as an exercise mat, some free weights, and resistance bands) to outfit your home gym can make all the difference in maintaining a routine. "You can get a complete full body workout without having to spend a lot of money on weights or even needing a large space to exercise," Nolan said. "People tend to discount how effective resistance bands, which cost about $30 for a full set, and bodyweight exercises can be."

"There are so many ways to do push-ups, whether it's on an incline or decline, on your knees, on a wall, or with different hand positions," Nolan said. No matter which way you choose, the exercise is challenging.

Nolan's favorite is the scapular push-up. Get in a plank position, keeping your arms as straight as you can. Sink your chest toward the floor then push your upper back up toward the sky. Repeat 10 to 15 times. "Focus on the area between your shoulder blades, this is where the work is happening, tummy is held tight and hips are held in line with your upper body," she said. "If you're very new to exercise, this can also be done against a wall."

"If you already have a home routine and are looking to switch it up a little, there are many free HIIT workout apps you can download on your phone," Nolan said. "You can set your work to rest intervals, as well as sets. It's a great way to get your heart rate up while focusing on strength work." She recommends a traditional Tabata format of 20 seconds work, 10 seconds rest, performed eight times. "What you do with those 4 minutes is up to you, but I like to alternate between two exercises (for example, kettlebell squats and push-ups), to keep it interesting," she said.