Exercise is crucially important habit for your health. It’s one of the core 4 health habits that we at life coach code advise people to implement in their life immediately.

And with the habit of exercise, comes the struggle of finding a gym. Choosing the right gym for your training needs can be a challenge, especially during a pandemic.

Some places have their gyms closed, and people there consider a home gym option. But no matter where you live, choosing the right gym can be a challenge.

Committing to a membership is a significant investment, and you want to get the best value possible. Not every gym is the right gym for you, and every gym has its flaws.

The Coronavirus pandemic has made choosing a gym even more complicated and that’s why we decided to help you. We decided to filter out the 5 essential tips that can guide you.

Here are five tips for choosing the right gym and some key features to consider.

5 Essential Tips for Choosing the Right Gym:

1. Consider Convenience and Location.

What’s the biggest challenge for anyone starting to exercise? Keeping the motivation high.

But motivation fades away and what stays it’s discipline. However, you should make it easy for yourself and not waste your will power on just getting to your gym.

That’s why convenience and location are crucial.

Look for a gym that’s close to your home or work so that you don’t have to venture out of your way to get there. Choosing a gym that’s in your usual commute makes it easier to go there, and it’s harder to skip your workout when motivation is running low.

It’s also worth considering a chain gym, like GymNation, with numerous locations to give yourself more options.

This feature is beneficial for people with larger commutes or who travel often.

2. Evaluate The Equipment for Your Needs.

Second, the type of equipment available will also play a pivotal role when determining which gym is right for you.

For this, you should know your specific goals.

What do you want to achieve with your exercise? Health? Weight loss? Muscle gain? Just cardio? Fitness?

If you’re interested in specialized training, powerlifting for example, a cardio driven gym with only treadmills, dumbbells, and cable machines isn’t the right choice.

If you have a particular passion, it’s worth driving a bit out of the way to find a gym that suits your needs. The same logic applies to those who prefer fitness classes rather than just self led training.

It’s also worth evaluating how much equipment is available and the quality of the gym. If equipment options are limited, it might be challenging to get the workout you need, especially with physical distancing protocols.

Evaluate your goals, and based on your goals look for a gym that has the quality equipment to help you achieve them.

3. Consider the Pandemic Protocols.

A new consideration for the post Coronavirus world is your prospective gym’s pandemic protocols.

Consider what safety measures each gym in your area has in place. Some have downtimes for sanitation while others are booking appointments.

Don’t hesitate to reach out and determine what cleaning measures and regulations are put in place to keep everyone healthy and safe.

Many gyms have put digital infrastructure in place to offer virtual training and classes during lockdown periods. Evaluating these various elements can help you choose the right gym for these unprecedented times.

The operating hours vary from gym to gym. Some are reduced, some are working only special days. This will also determine whether a specific gym is convenient or not for you.

If you work the backshift, look for a gym that offers extended hours that fit your schedule. Backshift workers, in particular, benefit from finding a 24 hour gym.

If you are a person who wants to get up early and have early morning workouts before starting the day, than find a gym that works from early mornings.

4. Look at the Community and Ethos.

Another important consideration that often gets overlooked is the values and ethos of the gym.

In other words, you want to choose a fitness center that has the right community spirit for your needs and goals.

Many female fitness enthusiasts struggle to find a gym where they feel safe and unjudged.

Strength sport athletes often struggle to fit in at commercial gyms, where they aren’t welcome to lift heavy.

Evaluate what you want. You might want a community that’s friendly, supportive and talkative during your workout. Or, you might want peace and quiet.

Finding a gym with strong community values that align with your goals can make working out an enjoyable experience.

5. Consider the Price of The Investment.

The final consideration will be the price and whether the cost of a membership is worth the value it offers.

You might find it’s worth paying more for a specialized membership if that suits your goals. Alternatively, your budget might be calling the shots.

If a membership is outside of your budget, consider using day pass or punch pass options to hit the gym occasionally while training at home.

Choose a gym that simplifies accomplishing your goals. If you find a gym that suits your budget and needs and that you enjoy attending, motivation and dedication aren’t out of reach.