Like any other seemingly-hardcore workout space, indoor climbing gyms can be intimidating places for first-timers — but they don’t have to be. In fact, a common misconception about climbing is that to get started, you have to have a ton of upper body strength.

For those of us who didn't do so well in gym class or are self-conscious about our limited upper body strength, the prospect of rock climbing can be daunting, to put it mildly. But getting started climbing isn't so different from diving into any other type of new workout routine, once you know how to prepare (both mentally and otherwise).

Many parents spend the winter furiously checking Forecast Bar, awaiting that moment in the future when their kids can finally go outside instead of watching that same episode of Peppa Pig for the 18th time or asking you: "Do we have any more glitter? I spilled all of mine on the carpet." Not Reddit user aggregate_jeff. To help beat cabin fever, this dad built an indoor play structure in his house.

Imagine yourself at a climbing wall: You head straight up, carefully grasping each handhold and foothold, a rope connecting a harness around your hips to a pulley above. The only problem: You don't know who's going to be on the ground holding the other end of that rope. And so, like many would-be climbers, you stay home. Alone.

Climbing gyms are great, but often expensive for the facilities they offer. If you've got the space and want to do your climbing workouts at home, try building this freestanding climbing wall in your garage or backyard.