I can be an anxious person at times. Sometimes for a good reason and sometimes I’m just an irrational baby. However, regardless of how long I’ve been training, I still get gym anxiety. If you’ve never had to deal with that I’m already envious! Gym anxiety is just like regular anxiety but it’s extended to a gym setting. No really, it’s when you don’t even want to step in the gym because you’re worried about how crowded it will be and whether you’ll be taking up too much space or whether the equipment you want to use is available. It’s being so self-conscious and wondering whether others are staring at you. It’s constantly questioning your program and your form and being in this state of overthinking.
The thing is, like regular anxiety, gym anxiety just prevents you from doing the things you know you should be doing. It’s saying,
‘Hey, this is your comfort zone. But there is where you should be’.
No growth happens in places where you’re comfortable. It’s scary to put yourself out there in any way, shape or form. Especially in a setting where everyone is vulnerable. However, every individual is there to better themselves and what it should come down to is ‘How much better am I becoming’ versus ‘Others are judging me’. This brings up the issue of ego lifting and putting yourself at risk for injury in worst case scenarios. However, what’s just as bad is not stepping foot in the gym because of how scared you are, sometimes without reason. What may feel just as bad is stepping in a setting where there’s predominantly men that are two times your size or where there’s so much equipment that you don’t even know where to go so you feel lost, overwhelmed, confused, judged and every other emotion that doesn’t belong in a space for growth. I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been training for and who you are. Whether you started yesterday or 3 years ago or whether you’re a certified personal trainer (like I am) or a casual gym-goer, anxiety still comes and goes. Understand that it’s normal and it’s only a problem if it stops you from doing what you should be doing.
Want to know something completely honest about me? For the past few months, I would only go to the gym at 5:30 am because that was the time that there were fewest people taking up equipment. If I wasn’t able to wake up at 5:30 am I wouldn’t go. How defeating does that sound? Every part of me loves going to the gym and I’d set my alarm every morning but just the thought of seeing people I don’t want to see would deter me from doing what I want to all because I woke up an hour too late.
Therefore, I’ve found that mindset is hugely important in many of these cases. It’s important to realize that it’s always you versus yourself. No one else matters. There’s only you who’s looking out for yourself and working to do better than you did yesterday. Whether you started training yesterday or you’ll start tomorrow no one is going to hold you accountable for your actions besides yourself. Additionally, the thought of being constantly watched can make you feel self-conscious and may stop you from doing certain exercises because you’re afraid that you may be doing them wrong or you’ll look silly doing them. However, it may help to focus on your music, wear a hat/developing tunnel vision or realize that other people in the gym are not against you. That last point is super important. In the fitness industry and life in general, we’re always competing. However, please remember this. People are almost always willing to help, regardless of their background, training, goals, etc. If anything, people are kinder in the gym because there is some commonality established between everyone i.e. you all are there to work out and improve yourself. You know those girls with the resting b*tch faces who look like they don’t want to be disturbed? (Many a time they don’t and that’s ok). However, there are also many of them that immediately light up when people ask for assistance because they genuinely want to help others. At the same time, things change when you’re as willing to help others as they are willing to help you. You start to become more open to error and learning while being less rigid and focusing on perfection. Remember, it’s the small steps that count. It doesn’t matter whether you only did one exercise and left. What matters is that you did something and didn’t let yourself be held back by fear. I think that’s especially commendable considering how debilitating anxiety can feel at times. But all that matters is that everyday you’re better than you were yesterday.
Marie.
Marie Writes (A Fitness Blog) 