10 gym etiquette tips to make sure everyone has a fun time working out

Working out can be a lot of fun, well, that is until your neighbor on the treadmill next to you violates gym etiquette by listening to their music loudly or hitting the machine. For this reason, it’s helpful for everyone to be aware of some fair gym-goer practices that help make the experience comfortable for everyone.

January is an especially good time to learn about gym etiquette. After all, it’s that time of year: new year, new resolutions, new gym membership. We all start the year full of energy and feeling very motivated. For proof, just go to any gym – literally any gym – at the beginning of January and see how crowded it is. No other month has seen machinery competition so intense or locker rooms so full.

So, it’s time we all learned how to behave respectfully towards others in the gym so everyone can have a fun and productive time. Crowds don’t have to be momentum killers! Instead, we just need to follow gym etiquette tips so that no one becomes Which person.

1. Wear new clothes

This may seem obvious, and we’ve all been in between laundry days and worn some questionable sweatpants before. But athletic clothing is often made of synthetic materials and can start to smell after you wear it while exercising, even after one use. So, try to wear new clothes when you go to the gym if you can, and always test them out. If you find that your clothes sometimes smell even after washing, there are special laundry detergents and sanitizers that can help remove bacteria.

2. Keep elaborate beauty procedures at home

Personal hygiene is a must, especially after exercising, of course. However, anything beyond the classic bath and grooming routine has no place in the dressing room. For example, if it’s been a while since you’ve shaved, consider doing so from the comfort of your bathroom so you don’t clog the drain. The same applies to exfoliation, removing calluses, etc.

3. Tidy yourself up

Can’t find five pound weights? Oh, someone left it in the wrong corner… again. It sounds familiar and bothers you every time, doesn’t it? And rightly so! It’s good studio etiquette to put any equipment you use back in its proper place. And yes this applies to everyone equipment. If you put something heavy like a dumbbell on the wrong rack, it could fall and hurt people.

Hygiene applies here too – put dirty towels in the used trash, wipe down your carpet after use, throw your trash in the trash, etc.

4. Keep a clean towel on hand

In most studios and gyms, yoga mats and other equipment are available for everyone to use, but frequent contact also means that germs can spread easily. Laying out a fresh towel can ensure you get less sweat on the area and protect you in case the previous user was negligent, especially in a place like a sauna or steam room.

5. Don’t judge, but also know how to read the room

For some, just going to the gym was a huge win. It takes a lot of effort and motivation to start a new fitness routine, and nothing can dampen a beginner’s enthusiasm like feeling like others are judging their performance. If the person next to you is breathing heavily, taking frequent breaks, or isn’t as skilled as you – and you find that frustrating – keep any comments or judgmental faces to yourself.