What stops so many people from getting started in the gym is the anxiety surrounded by it. Primarily, this comes from the fear of judgement. If you have suffered from this, then it is absolutely okay and nothing to be ashamed of! I can assure you that everyone who avidly goes to the gym has dealt with this to some degree. Fighting it off can be hard, but there are a few practical tricks to help you in this fight that I would like to share with you.

Get started with a home workout program

When it comes to judgement from others, there are two aspects of it I have noticed people fear most. Fear of being judged for their form and fear of being judged for the weight they are using. Even if you objectively know that someone who has made a lot of progress started off where you are now, that usually isn’t enough to make you feel totally secure. Well, fortunately there are tons of ways to get started working out at home. By doing this, you can build a solid base level of strength as well as learn good form on different exercises with no one else around.

Wear an outfit to the gym that you like

I think this is a tip that isn’t talked about enough. When you wear an outfit that you like, the real benefit isn’t in others liking the way you look but the boost of confidence you get from it. A confident you is usually the version of you that gets more done. Even as someone who has been training for a long period of time, this is something I try to be very mindful of. I am at a point where I am confident going into the gym by default, however if ever were long white socks with solid black shoes, all I can think about the whole workout is how silly I look and when I can leave.

Try to make yourself feel like you’re in your own world

There are three aspects to this that really make this possible. The first and most obvious one is having headphones and listening to music. When you have an upbeat song that you like playing loudly in your ears, it goes a long way for shutting the world out. The more you can cancel out the gym music, other people talking, and other people working out, the better. The second and more unique way is to wear a hat. Particularly one that covers your face a good bit. Something this serves to do is really to block off your range of vision a bit. The third one is to not look around the gym when resting, which is something that wearing a hat can help to accomplish. The less you notice what others are doing, the less you will realize they are even there; or think about them at all for that matter.

Try to get to the gym at lower traffic times

No matter if you are terrified of the gym or completely confident, everyone prefers an emptier gym. There’s more equipment available, less people walking around, less wait times, really every aspect of the gym is better when less people are there. Whatever time of day is busier may vary from gym to gym, but undeniably the hours of 5 pm to 7 pm are busiest across the board.  Many people go to the gym right after work before going home because it is more convenient, which is totally understandable. However, if you are able, try to get to the gym before 5 pm or after 7:30 pm, odds are the gym will be much emptier and you will enjoy your workout much more.

Workout with a friend

Whether that friend is a total beginner and completely anxious as well or they are very well-versed in the gym, there is a lot of value in not being alone. If that person with you is equally as anxious, then at least you are going through the experience together and have someone there to talk to you to distract you from everyone else there. If they are well-versed, then they can show you the ropes of the gym and make you confident in knowing what to do.

Conclusion

Gym anxiety is something almost everyone experiences to a degree and for many people it is a battle you face even as you progress a great deal. However, the take home I hope you find from this is that you have tools at your disposal to ease the experience and make yourself more confident sooner.