I thoroughly believe in the value of controlling your environment as much as you can, which is why I often avoid going to the gym. I have nothing personal against gyms—I go there from time to time. In fact, I started my career in health in a gym and I truly value the experience I gained there. I still have lifelong friends from the people I worked with. For some, the gym is the right environment. However, building a workout setup at home has significant advantages.

At home, you can control the quality of your air with filters or by working out outside, where you can avoid blue light and get fresh sunlight. You can control your music and even multitask—I've found that some of my best writing happens between sets. With a button on my phone, I can dictate notes while adrenaline is flowing. In fact, that's exactly how I wrote this post.

Perhaps the most important point is that having a dedicated workout space at home makes it harder to find excuses not to exercise. Just as you have a dedicated place to sleep because you need rest, you should have a dedicated place for physical activity. Even if you start small, with just a few pieces of equipment, you build a space that encourages you to meet your body's needs.

Having a home setup removes common obstacles to working out, such as not wanting to get dressed, drive to the gym, or wait for machines. It eliminates discomfort around others and allows you to work out on your terms.