It's easy for life to get in the way of making it to the gym as much as we'd like, whether it's hitting traffic on the way home, a parents evening appointment or a new box set is simple too good to miss.
With the dark mornings and evenings setting in it can make staying motivated even harder, but going to the gym or heading out for a run aren't the only ways to get a fitness fix and feel great.
Your living room or spare room can be transformed into a home gym in a flash - just add an exercise mat and choose your workout...
Set up your workout space
First things first, find a space in your home which is roomy enough for the kind of exercise you like to do, even if it means temporarily moving some furniture around. Ideally the space should be open and airy with a window letting in natural light, and the option to open it for a fresh breeze.
Consider the essential equipment
For most types of home workout all you need is space and an exercise mat, it's as easy as that! If you like to incorporate weighted movements into your workouts, you may want to consider picking up some pieces of equipment such as a small kettlebell and a weights selection. When it comes to stretching, a foam roller is a great piece if kit to have in the cupboard and can be used in many ways.
Choose your workout
From quick high intensity workouts to squeeze into a busy morning, to chilled out yoga sessions to help you relax after a tough day, there's plenty of choice and most are free to view on YouTube. All you need is a smart TV, smartphone or PC/Laptop to set up in your workout zone and off you go! Here are some options to get you started...
HIIT
Short bursts of high intensity exercise with less intense recovery periods in between exercises, designed to get your heart pumping and burn fat. These workouts are often 15-20 minutes long and leave you feeling energised. The Body Coach TV has workout videos for varying abilities with the option to target specific areas of the body.
Yoga
A series of slow stretching movements which increase flexibility and increase muscle strength. Deep breathing throughout the sessions helps to relax the mind and body too, sign up to Yoga with Adriene to get started, the online platform will even design your very own unique experience.
Pilates
Will flex your muscles and work your abs whilst strengthening your whole body. Classes vary in difficulty but if you're not sure where to start why not try Lottie Murphy's class with Adidas Women? Available on YouTube the ten-minute session will guide you through a series of movements to introduce you to the exercise.
Kettlebell workouts
This workout is a mix of cardio and weight training which puts your body in a mode of fat burning whilst also improving balance, coordination and overall strength. Workouts are fun and can be mixed up, you'll need to purchase a kettlebell either online or in a sports store then try the 30-minute full body kettlebell workout available on the Women's Health website.
Now is the perfect time to establish a new workout regime before the New Year arrives, so get ready, steady, sweat!