How to cope with social anxiety in the gym
When thinking of reasons to avoid working out, a lot of excuses can come to mind. Participating in physical activity can be uncomfortable, exhausting, time-consuming and occasionally embarrassing so it’s understandable why it’s difficult to start working out in a public space. Considering that nearly every single fitness establishment in the continental U.S. has a large, embossed quote on their wall reading “the hardest part of working out is walking through the front doors,” indicates that a majority of people simply struggle to motivate themselves to show up to the gym. For the inexperienced crowd, “gymtimidation” can be a common culprit in killing the drive to become more active. This term can encompass the feeling of intimidation, anxiety or awkwardness when working out in a gym. There’s nothing wrong with feeling insecure or self-conscious, but letting those feelings get in the way of self-improvement and growth is an issue. Luckily, these emotions do not need to limit anyone. There are plenty of different routes to tackle and overcome these barriers.
Build familiarity.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, a common root for anxiety is the fear of the unknown. Eradicating uncertainty could be one of the keys to boosting confidence in attending the gym. This could include researching different facilities in your region to exercise at, touring with someone to become more familiar with the layout, planning your workout before getting to the building or talking to someone who could help you achieve your goals.
Find a workout partner.
Working in tandem with alleviating the uncertainty previously mentioned, inviting a friend or family member could provide a source of support, inspiration and guidance. Strength can be found in numbers, so if the idea of working out alone seems absolutely ghastly, it could be beneficial to have some sort of companionship when going to the gym.
Start small.
Your first visit to the gym doesn’t have to be a two-hour muscle-killer with a grueling cardio session as a conclusion. Managing expectations and being mindful of what your limitations are will go a long way in preventing discouragement and frustration. No one expects a beginner to be running ten miles or squatting 300lbs. At one point, every single person in the gym was inexperienced and unsure of their own abilities. So don’t be embarrassed if you only feel comfortable with spending 20 minutes in the gym or if your workouts are not as rigorous as those around you. Small steps can lead to big successes.
By Hannah Olin