5 Tips for Overcoming Gymtimidation

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One of the biggest barriers for a lot people in getting active is just getting to the gym, period. Personally, I avoided the gym for years because I couldn’t get past my anxiety and convinced myself that I didn’t belong there. If this sounds familiar to you, then don’t worry—you’re not alone! Let’s go through some tips and tricks to help get past your “gymtimidation.”

1. Work Out With a Buddy

The scariest part of going to a new gym, or any gym, is often having to face it alone. The best way to conquer this fear is using the buddy system! It feels less intimidating to have a friendly face with you, and it creates a built-in accountability system. Try to find a friend who you are comfortable with and who is like-minded with their goals.

Once you’ve got your gym buddy, schedule your workouts in a joint calendar. As a bonus, you and your workout buddy can check in daily or weekly to discuss your goals and confirm your next workout.

2. Prep Your Playlist

One of the best workout motivators for me is a killer playlist to keep me going. In your free time, think about songs you’ve heard that make you feel powerful and inspired. This is the music you want to hear when you feel like quitting midworkout. If you need ideas, try looking at the soundtrack of your favorite action movie or video game. Or if music isn’t your thing, you can listen to an episode of your favorite podcast or a good audiobook—whatever works best for you.

3. Plan Your Workout

Not knowing where to start can easily stop you in your tracks, so planning your routine ahead of time is a great solution. Start by thinking about areas and muscle groups you want to target and do a quick search on Google or Pinterest for workouts that correlate. Once you’ve got your plan, make sure to write it down in your phone or a notebook that you can bring with you so you won’t forget. I like to keep a daily exercise journal on me so I can plan my workouts and keep track of my progress.

4. Ask for Help

If you’re not sure how to use a machine or where to find equipment, don’t be afraid to ask the gym staff—that’s why they are there! And if you’re not comfortable asking, this is another area that a workout buddy can come in handy.

Some gyms have their own apps with tutorials and quick videos showing how to use all the equipment and even different exercises as well. If your gym doesn’t offer something like this, you can find plenty of videos online that can offer the same guidance.

5. Focus on You

Sometimes we get those intrusive thoughts that say people around us are watching and judging us, and this is especially true at the gym. It’s a very normal fear to have, but the truth is, everyone else at the gym is there for the same purpose as you and they are almost always entirely focused on their own workout—not yours. Remember that you are doing this for you and you only, and what anyone else might think doesn’t matter.

Don’t let your gymtimidation keep you from a trying new things as part of healthy and active lifestyle—get started with your fitness journey today!