Living in an apartment means you might make some friends and meet new people! Make sure you know how to be a good neighbor by learning the proper etiquette on sharing the amenities. Be mindful of others and how your actions can impact them. By cleaning up after yourself, you create a pleasant atmosphere that everyone can enjoy.

1. Dress For The Gym: You wouldn’t try to play baseball without a glove, so don’t try to run on an elliptical with flip flops. It seems like a “no-brainer,” but when you don’t wear the appropriate clothing, injuries can happen. Wear closed-toed shoes, preferably sneakers, to stay safe using gym equipment. Avoid wearing clothes that have inflammatory or offensive statements on them. Everyone has a political opinion, but at the gym people want to let go of the outside world and workout.
2. Don’t Bring Tons Of Friends: Having one workout partner every now and then is perfectly fine, but it’s best to stick with smaller groups to avoid taking up all the equipment in the gym at once. Be courteous of the other members who are trying to get a good workout in. Your neighbors are the ones who pay for the gym out of their rent, which means that they come first before your guests.
3. Keep The Music Low: We all want to jam out while we sweat, but not everyone loves the same music as you do! Keep the music on a lower setting so others can enjoy their music as well.
4. Be Mindful Of Conversation: The gym is a great place to meet people, but not everyone wants to chat. If you’re running low on time and your neighbor wants to catch up, be honest and let them know you are in a time crunch. Offer another time where you are free so that you can talk. Likewise, if you see someone with earbuds in, they may not be in the mood to strike up a conversation.
5. Don’t Drop The Weights: While working out with the free weights, don’t drop or slam them into the ground. Protect the equipment that is there. If you are having trouble controlling the dumbbell, then you should consider going down in weight. The same principle goes for machines. Don’t let a set of weights slam down after a set. Not only is it jarring, but it can break the expensive machines.
6. Put Free Weights Back: You’ve finished your workout – great! Now, make sure to put everything back where you found it. Return everything you used to its original place and turn off any machines and lights that you used.
7. Don’t Hog The Machines: It’s fine to do a workout that focuses on one part of the body, but be aware that others may want to use the same machines as well. Coordinate with them on how to share the machine. Use their time to work as your time to rest, and vice versa.
8. Bring A Towel and Wipe Down Equipment After Use: Bring a cloth towel to keep your sweat to yourself. After using any machine, wipe down with a cleaner and a clean towel. Look at the floor around you. If you have sweat drops on the floor, then spray and wipe it down as well.

No one wants to arrive to a messy, sweaty, or loud fitness center! Get the most out of your workout and keep the workout buddies you make by tidying up and being considerate of others. These are simple rules that make a peaceful area for everyone to workout in. The fitness center is to be shared between everyone, so use the equipment with care.