Getting Over Your Nerves And Getting Into The Gym
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- December 2, 2025
Those who are much more experienced and acclimated to the gym can often forget just how daunting and even intimidating a prospect it can be to start going for the first time. Whether you haven’t been active in a long time or you’ve really never tried working out seriously before, joining a gym can be a big step, but it doesn’t have to be a scary one. Here are a few tips that can help you get over those nerves and make the commitment your health deserves.
A Little Education Never Helps
A lot of people worry that they’re going to do something wrong and attract attention, scrutiny, and even mockery. This isn’t as common as you might think, but you can still assuage those fears by learning a little more about working out before you go. You can learn to run more effectively before hitting the treadmill, learn the right form for simple movements like squats and presses, or watch videos of people using certain pieces of workout equipment ahead of time. It’s not the same as hands-on experience, but it can make it a little easier to approach workouts for the first time.
Tour Gyms Ahead Of Time
Not knowing what to expect from a gym can heighten your nerves through the fear of the unknown. Most gyms will allow you to tour them before you commit to membership, helping you get a better idea of the layout, the equipment, and the atmosphere it provides. You might even get introduced to some of the staff, who can help you feel more welcome and at ease. If you don’t feel comfortable in that space, you can always try another one.
Choose Gyms For Their Culture As Well As Their Features
Your workout environment plays a huge role in how confident and safe you feel. As such, you should consider looking for places like Thrive Gyms, which are known, amongst other things, for the effort they put into being inclusive, friendly, and welcoming. You want to make sure that you’re in a judgment-free space, allowing people of all shapes, ages, and experience levels to work on themselves. A warm community can also help you meet like-minded individuals who can be their own source of motivation and support on your journey.
Try Going During Off-Peak Hours
Some people just aren’t that comfortable with working out in a crowd. While finding and joining fitness classes can help you get over that, to some degree, by fostering a sense of community around yourself, you shouldn’t force yourself if social anxiety might cause you to skip going entirely. Going in the off-peak times, such as late mornings, early afternoons, or later in the evening, can give you a little more room and peace to feel comfortable. Over time, as your confidence grows, you may feel comfortable visiting at different times of the day.
In the vast majority of cases, anticipation is always the scary part, not actually going to the gym itself. However, hopefully the tips above make that journey even easier to start.
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Our Editorial Team are writers and experts in their field. Their views and opinions may not always be the views of Wellbeing Magazine. If you are under the direction of medical supervision please speak to your doctor or therapist before following the advice and recommendations in these articles.
