How to Keep People From Talking at the Gym
The social aspect of exercise can be fun and all, but not all of us are willing to chat when it’s time to exercise. Here’s how you can exude the right atmosphere to hold you back to work out in the public gym with minimal interruptions.
Go early
Read the room. In my gym, the evenings are busy and chatty, and the crowd is relaxed and relaxed during the day. Early mornings, meanwhile, are the best time for singles – a prerogative of loyal regulars who mostly keep themselves apart.
Fewer people at the gym means fewer people talking to you. And since they’re the same people every time, they’ll end up taking the hint that you don’t want to be bothered. Keep a demeanor that says, “I haven’t had coffee yet,” and you’re golden.
Gyms, of course, are different. If you have 24 hours, you might get lucky as part of the night brigade.
Wear headphones
This is a classic hacker for one reason: it works. If a polite person sees that you are wearing headphones, they are less likely to talk to you because they will say that you do not want to be disturbed. You don’t even need to play music to take advantage of this effect, although if you’re using them purely as a visual deterrent, make sure they are large and visible (no headphones are hidden under your hair).
For best results, boost your music so you can’t actually hear what people are saying. It also prevents you from being distracted by other people’s comments. If you have a penchant for engaging in interesting conversations that are happening around you, it will also help curb this tendency.
If someone really bothers you during your workout – and of course they might have a good reason – do a great show by turning off your music, taking off your headphones and asking them what the fuss is about. You create a barrier of time and awkwardness that should discourage them from repeating this.
Don’t look into your eyes
This is probably even more effective than the headphone trick, but if you’re used to looking and smiling at everyone, it can be more difficult to stick to this rule. But all you really need is not to look more in the eye than is absolutely necessary.
Doing squats? Eyes straight ahead. On a treadmill? Eyes to the screen. Resting between sets ? Look at your phone or study the numbers in your workout diary. It is difficult for someone to get your attention if you never look in their direction.
Smile judiciously
However, you may be wary of being rude. Fortunately, a few nods and smiles go a long way.
Don’t smile at people when you don’t want to be disturbed. It is there to give some brief smile or greeting as you enter and exit from the gym. “She seems like a good person, but she gets very focused when she lifts weights” is the kind of mood you want to be in.
Be honest
While the “don’t talk to me” vibes are your first defense, there’s nothing wrong with being blunt when you’re being drawn into a conversation. “Sorry, I need to get back to training” is a great phrase, even if you have to repeat it several times. People tend to understand.
You can talk about what you need to finish before the kids return from school, or about taking timed breaks between exercises, or simply saying that you need to focus. Especially if you have a history of engaging in a conversation while exercising, it’s just polite to let your gym friends know that you’re not mad at them or anything; you just want more exercise and less chatting.