We all know that exercise is a key element in maintaining good health and well-being. We are taught this from a very young age, starting as early as elementary school. Programs, such as Jump Rope For Heart, are introduced to elementary schools in hopes of educating students about the importance of heart health by having kids do something that they enjoy: jumping rope! This program is just one of the many that are introduced to students in hopes of promoting exercise and overall health and wellness.
Early on, we are taught that exercising is crucial in maintaining not only physical health but also mental, emotional, and even spiritual health. Whether you are 8 years old or 80 years old, the importance of physical activity is unchanging.
Because of this, gyms are made readily available to people who can achieve this goal of good health and overall wellness. Gyms and workout centers can be found in hotels, apartment complexes, schools, and even workplaces. However, the obstacle of gym anxiety that some people experience is worth acknowledging.
Luckily, there are many ways that you can tackle your gym anxiety! Jumping over this hurdle will allow you to freely go to the gym without worry or tension.
Dump Comparison
If you really want to tackle your gym anxiety once and for all, then you NEED to dump comparison! Stop comparing yourself to others around you. I know that this can be a very hard thing to do.
I have experienced my fair share of struggles with comparing myself to others at the gym. However, a good thing that I always try to remind myself of is the fact that each individual is at the gym for the same reason: to improve their health and/or to improve their physical appearance.
While the common reason people work out is to better themselves, there is a more specific variety of reasons why people go to the gym. Some people may want to lose weight, while others may want to work on tone and definition. Or there may be people who want to focus on both!
Comparing yourself to others is probably one of the worst things you can do for your mental health and how you perceive yourself. When going to the gym, it is crucial to remind yourself that every single person you see there is focused on improving or maintaining one’s health. Practice self-love and DUMP COMPARISON!
Plan It Out
Drawing from our previous step, it can be very helpful to make a plan before going to the gym. You can memorize this plan, write it down in a planner, or type it out in the Notes app on your phone. Having a plan of what exercises you want to do, what parts of the body you want to focus on, and what machines you may use can really help ease anxiety before getting to the gym.
When planning your gym schedule, you may want to keep in mind any other priorities that you may have, such as school, work, etc. You also want to keep in mind the physical outcomes of working out: post-working out soreness.
It is normal for your body, or at least specific parts, to be sore after straining them during a workout. As long as you are not pushing yourself too hard, this soreness is normal. However, you may want to plan your gym routine using key body targets as your guideline. For example, some individuals set a day where they strictly focus on leg muscles and then, the next day, their arm muscles.
Familiarizing yourself with getting into a routine and using certain machines can help boost your confidence each time you go to the gym!
Wear What Makes YOU Comfortable
Let’s face it. Not everyone wants to wear those “cute” matching gym sets advertised on TikTok. I put “cute” in quotes because everyone can judge “cute” differently. Also, you should not feel like you have to dress “cute” to go to the gym.
When dressing for the gym, the most important thing is to wear what makes you comfortable. And that is it—that is all that matters.
It is also important to wear something that is physically comfortable. It would not be advised to wear jeans and a polo shirt to the gym. Instead, it would be helpful to wear workout-specific clothes, such as Dri-FIT clothing.
If wearing something cute makes you comfortable, then, by all means, wear it! However, if you feel the best wearing a baggy T-shirt and sweatpants, then wear them! As long as what you wear is appropriate for a gym setting, then embrace what you put on your body.
Let’s Talk Time
Time can be an underlying trigger for your gym anxiety. Finding a good time to go to the gym plays a critical role in the success of your gym experience.
It helps to search your specific gym and its location on Google. Sometimes, there may be a live display of how busy your gym tends to be at that specific time and day of the week. From these statistics, you can make a judgment for yourself as to when would be the best time to go to the gym.
If you would rather try working out when there are fewer people around, it may be helpful to go at a less busy time. However, if the only time that works around your class schedule is evenings, then you will have to find an evening that would work for you.
If you cannot find a live display for your gym on Google, then it may be useful to visit your local gym’s website or contact them directly.
Get To Know The Equipment
This can be one of the trickier steps when going to the gym. Plenty of people have taken a single look at a machine and thought to themselves, “I have no clue how that machine works.”
This is a normal reaction to have.
Machines at the gym can look quite foreign to the naked eye. However, a lot of machines have instructions on them regarding proper use and safety instructions. Safety is crucial in making sure you have a positive gym experience.
You can observe those around you to see how they use the machines. You can watch videos on TikTok or YouTube to see how certain machines can be used. You can also see if certain exercises you want to do require the use of certain machines.
It is a must to practice safe machine usage when going to the gym. This includes using sanitary wipes to wipe down your machine after you use it. We don’t want any germs spreading at the gym!
Get To Know Your Body
This is a tip that is not just useful when wanting to go to the gym. Getting to know one’s body is a good habit to become familiar with in your everyday life.
Knowing what makes your body feel good and what doesn’t is very important when deciding how to approach exercising. Additionally, you may have recognized conditions or illnesses that you want to consider when thinking about working out.
Will too much strenuous activity be too much for your body to handle? Do you need to make sure you have a certain type of supplement along with you when you go to the gym? These are the types of things you want to consider when pursuing working out.
Bring A Friend Or Make A Friend
If you are a social butterfly, you can use this trait to help reduce your gym anxiety!
This step may seem scary at first. However, if you have frequented your local gym enough times to recognize familiar faces, it might not hurt to get to know your fellow gym-goers!
Engaging in simple conversation can be the first step in creating a new friendship. They may even teach you exercises or tips that could benefit you—or vice versa!
If you are not as much of an extrovert, then simply inviting one of your already-made friends to come work out with you can be just as effective. Having someone by your side who you know and trust can really be encouraging. It can also be a great way to pass the time!
Know Your Boundaries
Knowing your boundaries when working out involves starting slow. You may feel eager to jump right into your workout journey. While this is a great mentality, it is also important to acknowledge and respect your boundaries.
These boundaries can be both physical and mental. Placing boundaries for yourself in any aspect of your life can be extremely beneficial for yourself as a whole. Setting a future goal for yourself should be the practiced habit, instead of overstepping your own boundaries, in hopes of achieving your goal sooner.
Pushing your boundaries or rushing into things too quickly when working out can result in sore muscles, tiredness/fatigue, and discouragement. Discouragement comes with frustration, which is never an easy guest to get rid of.
Educate Yourself
Educating yourself in any aspect of life is important for expanding your knowledge. Exercising is very important if you want to see an improvement in your body.
Some people may seek guidance from a personal trainer. Personal trainers specialize in physical fitness and exercise. Their recommendations and workout plans can help individuals achieve their gym and body goals.
You can educate yourself by simply scrolling on TikTok. Searching through people’s videos on gym tips and tricks can really be useful in expanding your gym knowledge. These videos could be on anything from favorite cardio workouts to protein shake recipes!
Jam Out
It seems that in today’s world, people are listening to music everywhere you look. They walk to class with headphones on, do homework with earbuds in, and drive their vehicles with speakers blaring.
Listening to music is a common strategy for getting through the day, and the same goes for working out.
Listening to music can be extremely helpful when working out. There are countless gym playlists filled with uplifting, high-intensity music that can put you into a perfect working-out mode.
Take out your headphones, tune out, and turn up your favorite bangers that will have you jammin’ all the way through your workout!
Look Forward To Healthy Food
Having a tasty protein shake or a delectable protein cookie in the back of your mind during your workout can act as your reward.
It may sound childish to have this mentality. However, it is recommended to intake protein (in whatever form you like) after working out. So…why not turn it into a fun game to keep yourself distracted?
If protein powders and supplements are not your preferred method of protein intake, then that is just fine. Sizzle up a ribeye steak or a nice turkey breast instead!
Whether you splurge on your local Tropical Smoothie’s protein smoothies or make one of your own, that blend will undoubtedly give you all the fuel your muscles need!
Working out can certainly be intimidating. Whether you are a newcomer or a regular, the act of going to the gym can bring up many inner feelings. Those feelings may not always be the most positive or encouraging. But whenever you feel discouraged about working out, always come back to these steps to remind yourself of all the power you and your body hold!
