Whether you love working out or you hate it, you can agree that too many people at the gym is a complete nightmare. You're trying to run on the treadmill for only 20 minutes, but every single machine is taken. You want to get a bench, but that guy has been doing shoulders for God knows how long. You're trying to do a few sets on the squat rack, but there's a group of girls gossiping about who did what with who at formal last weekend. Again, it's a nightmare.
If you're a "gym rat" kind of guy, it's a place of relaxation. It's a place to blast "Pablo" through your Beats headphones and occasionally check yourself out in the mirror when you do biceps curls. (Yes, us girls do notice those kinds of things.) You go with your friends, you go alone, you go for an hour or you go for four hours, whatever. As girls, we don't really understand it, but we certainly expect the same respect you give your bros at the gym.
Be nice, but not too nice. And you know the difference. This isn't a basement of a fraternity house or the bar on a Friday night, and we're not here to find out how sweaty you can get off of the dance floor. We love when a guy offers to take a weight off the rack for us, but not when he turns that into an extremely detailed conversation.
Please ask us permission to use something after us. Don't just awkwardly stand there and not say anything because your kindergarten teachers didn't tell you how to talk to a woman you don't know. Trust me, women don't do 15 sets of every machine like men do. We have ten thousand other things to do that day, so don't worry. You will get your turn.
Don't all gather in one place and talk for an extensive period of time. Girls are completely guilty of this as well. If you're seriously there to socialize, well, don't be there.
If we know each other outside of the gym, say hello. Even if it's been five months, a casual greeting and a smile will prevent any sort of confrontation. This is directed at girls, too. Being friendly is so hard for people nowadays. Instead of going up to people you know and asking how they've been, we all avoid each other. Until we're in the comfort of our own houses (or intoxicated), we don't communicate. We send a random "Hey" text message, as if you both totally didn't make incredibly awkward eye contact earlier that day.
And let's be real. We look at you, too. It's human nature and if you're looking hella good, we'll definitely glance over when you're not paying attention.
Staring is the absolute worst crime to commit at the gym. And this is 95 percent directed at guys, five percent at the girls who wear basically a bra and the tightest leggings to the gym. We all stare at attractive people. But, please don't make it obvious and don't do it so much. We appreciate the compliment, but no one needs that added pressure when we're just trying to exercise to make ourselves healthier. Girls, you have a right to wear whatever you want, however revealing it may be. Don't expect guys to not stare, though. That's on you.
Men and women need to give each other mutual respect in public places. This goes for other deeper situations, too. It's formal season and almost summer. We're all concerned with getting that perfect toned body.
So next time you go to the gym, just do your thing and let everyone else do theirs.
