We know the gym can be intimidating when your first step your foot past the door-between the weights room, different machinery and so many classes to choose from resulting in you hopping on to the piece of cardio equipment that you are most familar with in the corner hoping that no one is judging you. 

Here are some tips to help you brave the gym:

• Plan ahead- if you plan the exercises you want to do, you can familiarise yourself with the equipment before you even go. 
• Take you earphones if you are by yourself- make a playlist full of your favourite songs to keep your moral high and zone out from all of the nagging doubts. Music has also been shown to improve performance and well being, helping you to push through mental blocks and move past plateaus. 
• Seek advice- if you are completely new and have never done this before then you are probably afriad of hurting yourself or worrying that you are doing an exercise wrong. Ask a personal trainer for some advice on what to begin with. 
• Take a friend-having someone there by your side can help overcome your fear, this also a great as you can be more competitive, have more fun, have more motivation, less likely to miss a session and can help spot each other. 
• Timing- go to the gym at an off-peak time, this will allow you to explore more with the equipment. Rely the least on this tip as it can hold you back from the rest of your daily routine. If you feel like people are watching you, they are more likely too focused on themselves to care. 
• Hire a personal trainer- having a P.T. will be great for your confidence and performance. They will help you overcome your fear while teaching you new techniques and plan your sessions for when you are not with them which can get you over that intimidating feeling- overall helping you achieve your goals.