Proper Phone Etiquette at the Gym: The Dos and Don’ts
It pains me to even need to put out such an article but we live in a world where an item that never seems to leave our hand is our phone. Phone etiquette goes a long way in public and is even more important (especially for privacy reasons) at the gym. Remember the days where people would train to a boombox in the corner and everyone was checking their form in the mirror? No, me neither. That was WAY too long ago. Nowadays, what people are listening to is music streaming from their phone while snapping selfies of themselves in the mirrors with good downlighting. All I can do is shake my head.
This article I want to lay some ground rules for proper phone etiquette at the gym. If you follow them, you’ll go unnoticed. If you dismiss them and go rogue on what I’m about to tell you, you’ll be forever known as the douchebag of the gym. Don’t be a douchebag. Heed my advice.
8 Things You NEED to Know About Phone Etiquette at the Gym
Below are eight things you need to know about phone etiquette at the gym…
1. DO listen to music or podcasts on your phone
It’s extremely boring to exercise without anything playing in the background. For that reason, many people listen to their favorite music or even an educational podcast to help them improve a skill set or learn something while exercising (killing two birds with one stone). Regardless, be respectful and don’t blast your music or podcast and do yourself and everyone around you a favor by not singing along with your tunes. Get in a zone with what you want to listen to and crush your workout.
2. DON’T sit on equipment and watch videos between sets
The gym isn’t a movie theatre. You can’t simply lay down on the leg press with your feet up and start watching videos, shows, or movies. Do that on your own time. Your rest periods should be short so you keep your workout intense. Try not to rest for more than a minute if you’re looking to build muscle and even shorter if you’re trying to lose weight and burn calories. You can watch Netflix or whatever you want to view when you get home.
3. DO track your workout
If you want to track your workout, great. However, when you are done, put your phone back in your pocket. Having your phone simply laying around or constantly in your hand gives people an uneasy feeling. Not only could your phone get broken if stepped on or if a weight were to fall on it, but having it always in your hand makes you seem like a creeper who is going around taking pictures of people. Log your set in your phone, see what your next exercise is and weight needed and keep moving. Tracking your workout is a great way to ensure you are progressing and overloading the muscle each workout to see progress. You could bypass all of this by simply purchasing a workout log or workout journal where you simply use a pen/pencil and document your workout – no phone needed.
4. DON’T waste time texting and emailing
When you go to the gym, are you there to exercise or to chit-chat? Exercise, right? Then why are you spending time on your phone texting and emailing? You’re taking up space in the gym that could be occupied by another person. You’re wasting not only your time but the time of others by having improper phone etiquette. Save your conversations on your phone until after your workout. If you have time to text and email on your phone, you’re not putting in maximum effort and intensity with your workout. Get in your workout and then return those messages later when you get home or back to work.
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