Returning to the gym should not be taken lightly during a pandemic.
As businesses all around the country start to open up, regular gym-goers are probably either breathing heavily in excitement, or dreading going back after months and months of muscle atrophy and ice cream baths.
Going to the gym is something some people enjoy, but most people consider it necessary. I won’t go so far as to say the gym is necessary, but fitness and exercise certainly are, however you can get them. The gym is arguably the easiest, more routine way you can go about keeping yourself physically fit, so it is definitely important to your overall health.
That being said, not getting Covid-19 is also important to your overall health.
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Here are five ways you can return to the gym and remain as safe as humanly possible:
Wear a mask. I’ve been back to the gym recently, and been astounded by the amount of people wearing masks that are falling off their faces. Masks are supposed to cover your nose AND mouth. Only wearing half a mask is disrespectful to the establishment, and the other people around you.
Bring hand sanitizer. Bring a small bottle with you, and sanitize regularly. Sanitize your water bottle as you go, and any other apparatus you might touch.
Avoid crowds. This probably goes without saying, since most of us avoid people at the gym anyway. You may have to wait longer to get the machine you want, but staying away from other humans is the point here.
Wipe down machines before and after use. Most gyms currently have sanitizer and wipes. Wipe down the machines before and after use, especially the handles of the machines.
Don’t touch your face. No matter how much you want to, don’t touch your face or rub your eyes while you are at the gym. If you must, sanitize your hands first. Just make sure you wait for the sanitizer to dry, because getting alcohol in your eye is never a pleasant experience.