Exercise Isn't Pretty. How to Get Past Feeling Awkward.
You’ve woken up feeling motivated. You’ve hyped yourself up for an amazing workout and you’ve even put on your favorite gym outfit and your ultimate workout playlist.
As you enter the gym, you’re still feeling pumped and ready to smash some new personal best records.
But then, as you make your way across the gym floor towards the free weights or cardio section, this motivation disappears. Instead, it is replaced with dread. You start feeling insecure and anxious about working out near other people in a small, yet busy gym.
The term for this is gym anxiety or ‘gymtimidation’ and it’s more common than you might think. It is characterized by intense anxiety when you’re in the gym, or fear that you look awkward while you’re working out.
It can also stem from being worried about other people’s judgment. This is especially prevalent in those who are new to the gym and feel like they have no idea what they are doing. They fear that the more experienced gym-goers will judge their abilities or criticize their form.
If these feelings resonate with you, you might not enjoy working out as much as you’d like. You might have accepted that exercising in public is not for you. You’re not alone in these feelings!
There are plenty of things you can do to overcome your gym anxiety and start feeling more confident when you’re working out.
Plan Your Workout Beforehand
Writing your workout down on a piece of paper or using the Notes app on your phone can help to calm your nerves as you head into the gym. It removes some of the anxiety around the unknown and avoids the mid-workout panic that can arise when you’re unsure which exercise to do next.
This is a great way to hold yourself accountable too. If you’ve planned out exactly what exercises you’re going to be doing that day, you’re less likely to back out and go home before you’ve finished the workout.
Stick to One Area of the Gym
A lot of people's feelings of awkwardness in the gym arise from having to move from one area to another in between exercises.
If you’re feeling anxious about going to the gym, grab one set of dumbbells or one barbell and head to the corner of the gym. You can complete your whole workout without moving from this corner! There are plenty of workouts online that use just one piece of equipment that you can follow along to.
Get a Workout Buddy
It’s likely that you will feel much more confident and much less awkward when you are in the gym with one of your friends.
Find yourself a workout buddy who can exercise with you to help you feel more at home while you are working out in the gym. You can motivate each other during a tough training session and hold each other accountable.
Go to the Gym at Quieter Times
Going to the gym during peak hours is a no-go if you experience severe gym anxiety. Aim to work out at off-peak times when the gym will be much quieter. This way, you can get a great workout done without feeling anxious or awkward.