Have you ever been anxious about going to the gym? Scared people will judge you for not knowing how to use the equipment? Think people are laughing at your appearance and abilities? Or are concerned the gym is going to be overcrowded and germy ? If you have ever had any of these thoughts you most likely have suffered from “gymidation”, which is just an abbreviation for gym anxiety.
The gym is an overwhelming space, especially for beginners. With the amount of machines, areas, and people in a space it feels like there are so many opportunities to embarrass yourself. As a beginner I can attest to all those feelings. It has been hard for me to become acquainted with everything and I have had to fight a lot of those feelings this past month. But here are some strategies that have I have learned and are slowly helping me overcome my gym anxiety:
Go with a Friend
- Being able to go with my roommates and new friends I have made allowed me to be more comfortable working out because they have been able to provide me with guidance, support, and comfort. It also makes working out a social activity too!
Pick a time and plan your workout
- By picking a time and putting it in your calendar, it encourages you to go instead of letting your anxiety hold you back. In addition, going in knowing a plan will help ease the fear of not knowing what to do next. You can easily focus on your workout and accomplish what you came to the gym to do.
Try Group Fitness
- If you have seen my last post, you will know about my new found love for group fitness. For me, it has truly helped alleviate the anxiety of not knowing what to do at the gym and has allowed me to build a community within the classes which has helped make the gym feel a lot smaller.
Positive Thinking
- The gym is only a scary place if you let your brain think that. If you are telling yourself that everyone is judging you, it is going to feel like everyone is judging you. Go in with a mindset that everyone is truly focused on their own workout and that truth will slowly become accepted in your mind.
Keep Going
- The more you go, the more comfortable you will become with the gym. Try to make it a daily habit of going and instead of it invoking anxiety it will be able to relieve it.
I wish for everyone that the hardest part of a workout would be the actual workout. Remind yourself that walking through the doors of that gym is something you should be proud of. Whether you go in for only a 10 minute jog on the treadmill or you run a whole marathon, getting up to get your body movement is something to celebrate.
I know it feels like all eyes are on you but that is just the anxiety speaking. The more you go to the gym the more comfortable you will get into that space. Take easement in knowing that everyone was a beginner at some point. And you never know, maybe one day you will be able to help a beginner get over their “gymidation”, allowing you to reflect and look at how far you have come.
I think that the overall lesson of your blog is very important. There are a lot of people who live their daily lives with constant anxiety over so many things, and the gym is a place that really heightens that anxiety. Really it is all about your mindset, and that is not just with gym anxiety, but all kinds of anxiety. If you believe wholeheartedly that you can do something or aren’t being judged in a situation, the stress you constantly feel is decreased by so much. However, I think social media will make it harder for people to have such a mindset. There are so many pictures and videos nowadays of people bragging about their physique or making fun of a beginner at the gym, which really lowers the confidence of those with gymidation. Despite this, the point of your post still rings true.
I’ve been slacking with going to the gym lately, and I think a big part of that is the “gymtimidation”, as you call it. And I fully agree, especially when you walk into a crowded and smelly gym full of buff guys that huddle in groups around all the machines. I normally sneak away to the cardio section, which tends to be less crowded on most days. But I’m working up the courage and confidence to approach the upper body machines or even the free weights rack. I’m going tomorrow morning and will use some of your tips!