Benefits of joining a gym when working from home

Working from home has its perks, but there are also some downsides depending on individual situations, which is why joining a gym could provide many benefits.

My working life and my university studies all require me to, at the moment, work from home. I don't have to leave the house to get work done because it is all remotely achievable.

However, whilst working from home is a preferred choice for some and does have its benefits, there are some drawbacks to consider. For instance, it can be incredibly easy to be rather sedentary during the working day, if you have no reason to get up and move about.

You may do some home workout routines, but even those can be challenging, especially if you don't have lots of equipment, it's too hot or too cold and dark in the winter, and it limits your interactions with others.

I have always wanted to be someone who could work out from home, and while I do occasionally, the weather impacts my routine. If I'm working from home, I tend to continue working longer hours and say, 'I don't have time to work out'.

But, for 2025, I've decided to join a local leisure centre. I've signed up and paid for a membership, which includes access to the gym, classes, the swimming pool, and activities, such as badminton.

This leisure centre offers a lot of variety in terms of working out, and knowing I've paid for a membership and have somewhere to go, I'm finding myself sticking to a workout routine. And I feel a lot better because of it.

So, I thought I'd share some benefits of joining a gym, particularly for those who work from home.

Meet new people

Working from home can be quite isolating for some people. If your day-to-day job doesn't require you to be on lots of calls and attend lots of virtual meetings, then you won't necessarily speak to many people.

But by joining a gym, you'll undoubtedly get to see other people and talk to other people. Whether it's the receptionist, someone using a machine you want to have a go at, or just a friendly hello.

Over time, you could become gym buddies with someone you see often at the gym, or if you sign up with a friend (like I did), you'll get to see them more frequently too.

Options, options, options

Depending on the gym, you'll be offered lots of variety with regard to how to workout. Most gyms tend to have similar equipment in that they offer cardio and strength machines.

There'll often be treadmills, exercise bikes, rowing machines, StairMasters, cross-trainers, etc., and then machines and hand-held weights that target different muscle groups. Plus, depending on what gym you sign up for, there could be classes, ranging from Spin to Body Combat, a swimming pool and activities.,

I would say, though, that make sure you join a gym that suits your needs. I tried a couple of different gyms on a pay-as-you-go basis before deciding to join the leisure centre.

Workout without the weather

One thing I've always found a challenge when working out from home is the weather. Working from home in general is great because if it's raining or really cold, I don't have to necessarily go out and I can put the heating on. If it's hot, I can make a cold drink and turn on the fan.

But working out after a day of remote working, particularly in the summer, is difficult. The sun can be quite bright, a fan might not be good enough — and people might not have a fan in their workout space — and working out outside in the heat isn't always a great idea either.

When it's cold, going outside isn't that appealing and when it gets dark early, it can be de-motivating. But at the gym, it's a whole other story.

Yes, you may have to drive, or walk, in the heat or the cold and rain, but once you get to the gym, they're generally climate-controlled. A lot of them have air-conditioning, which means that you can do a workout, get hot and sweaty, and not feel like you're boiling.

Plus, if there's a pool, you can go for a swim in the heat to cool off.

Increase motivation

As I mentioned above, if it's dark outside, it can be a bit de-motivating to work out from home. The same could be said if you have extra work to do, or if you're reading a particularly good book or watching a particularly good show.

But by joining a gym, you can make sure you get in your exercise each week because 1) you'll know you're paying for a membership so hopefully want to get the most out of it, 2) if you find a type of workout, class or piece of equipment you really enjoy, you'll be more motivated to do it and 3) being at the gym surrounded by others working out, will motivate and drive you more.

However, even though I'm promoting the gym in this blog post, I understand that it's not the right option for everyone. Gyms can be expensive. There might not be a gym near you with what you're looking for.

Getting in some home workouts each week is just as good as going to the gym. Personally, I've found it easier to get my workouts in whilst working from home five days a week by joining a gym.

So, if you want to work out more and find it a challenge doing it from home, especially when you work from home, then think about joining a gym. The four benefits above are just some I've noticed — I'm sure there are plenty more!

If you do complete home workouts, I'd love to know what workouts you do. Feel free to leave a comment below.

Until next time...