Anxiety affects many people every single day. For some, it can manifest as not wanting to leave the house while, for others, it could be severe discomfort when around groups of people. If you notice that you feel anxious or fearful regarding exercise, it might be worth considering the ways that you can alleviate these feelings and still look after your body. Rather than shying away from physical activity altogether, you might want to change the ways in which you exercise, as well as the location in which you do it. Here are 3 tips to help you overcome your exercise anxiety:

Workout At Home

Exercise doesn’t have to take place around other people. If you really don’t want to get your sweat on when others are around, you might want to consider the ways in which you could train at home. Even for those who have small homes, live with flatmates, or even with their parents, some types of equipment, such as these 5kg hex dumbbells, are small enough that you could do different exercises within a bedroom. You don’t even have to work out in private forever. Once you feel confident enough, you can start trying to exercise in public settings. For now, the important thing is that you are getting your body moving, because of the benefits it brings to your organs, muscles, and even mental health.

Consider The Timing

It’s completely valid to not want to work out at home, but that doesn’t mean you can forego exercise. If you like the idea of exercising outside of the home, whether that be at a park or a gym, but don’t want to go when it is busy, it could be worth doing a little research first. Generally, gyms tend to have quiet times, such as when people are at work or, if the gym is open 24 hours a day, very late at night and early in the morning. You would probably want to avoid going just before the working day, and just after, as this is when the majority of people are likely to go, which won’t help your exercise anxiety. Slowly, you can gradually start going when the population increases, allowing you to ease yourself into working out around strangers.

Have A Buddy

Whether you go to the gym, a jog around the park, or even workout at home, it can be helpful to have a friend with you. Not only can this make the experience more enjoyable for you both, but you may be able to find some comfort in knowing that someone you trust is right there alongside you. To keep your mind off of your exercise anxiety, you could also look into pair exercises that will allow you both to play while you keep fit.

Both physical and mental wellbeing is important, so it can be good to find workarounds for any anxieties you currently have. Exercising can also help to alleviate these worries, through the release of endorphins, as well as bolstered self-confidence.