Are you one of the whopping 35%?
A new study revealed that 35% of women spend 81 days’ worth of time rummaging through their handbag! We haven’t done an official study yet, but we suspect gym bag foraging takes up at least as many hours of your life.
Stop the endless game of hide-and-seek that you play with your gym bag.
Get your bag organized and keep it that way! Use these 6 tips to end the stress and mess.
Tip #1: Make Packing Your Gym Bag Part of Your Routine
If busy is your normal pace, then you know that anything outside of routine happens haphazardly. Spare yourself the wasted time and hassle of rushing to pack your gym bag last minute. Make it a habit to always pack it at night or whenever will work best for you. You’ll remember your stuff and stress less.
Tip #2: Find a Bag That’s Fit for Your Needs
Your bag probably does double duty. Depending on the time of day you work out, it may be a gym-to-work bag. Maybe your bag has to function as evening gym storage and also look classy when you hit the town after. Whatever your lifestyle, finding the perfect gym bag will save your stress.
Tip #3: Keep Some Items Permanently Packed
Some items are gym staples. Since you always want to have them on hand, keep them in your bag permanently. Here’s a list to get you started:
Hygiene Items
- Deodorant
- Dry shampoo
- Wet wipes
- Lip balm
- Nail File
Just In Case
- Hair ties
- First aid kit
- Basic outfit (tears happen!)
Designated for the Gym
- Charger
- Sweat-ready earbuds
- Equipment you always use (yoga mat, gloves, etc.)
- Gym shoe bag
Tip #4: Pin Your Daily Pack List Inside Your Bag
There are also some items that you should always have at the gym but also need to change out regularly. You don’t wear the same dirty workout clothes every day, after all.
Rather than trying to remember what you need to pack every day, pin your daily pack list inside your bag. When you complete your packing routine, you won’t have the stress of worrying about forgetting an essential.
Pin this daily list to start:
- Outfit
- Underwear
- Socks
- Laundry bag
- Water bottle
- Healthy on-the-go snack
Tip #5: Always Consider Special Plans
Besides these everyday essentials, there are some items you may need to pack depending on your plans for the day. Whenever you complete your packing routine, ask yourself a few questions:
- What kinds of workouts am I doing today?
- Am I getting sweaty at the gym?
- Where am I going after the gym?
- How much time will I have to get ready after my workout?
Based on your answers to these questions, you may need to add a few items to your bag!
For example, if you plan to hit the pool at the gym then you’ll need to pack your swimsuit. Gold’s Gym SoCal always offers fresh towel service for free with most memberships.
Tip #6: Store Your Bag Somewhere Accessible
Using all these tips won’t do much good if getting to your gym bag is a hassle. Don’t keep it in the trunk of your car or the on the floor of your closet- you’ll just put off packing or make a mess anyway. Store your bag somewhere accessible so it’s easy to stay organized and pack as part of your routine.
Once you’ve developed these gym bag habits, you won’t have to wonder if you’re one of the 35% always digging in a bag instead of doing what you came to do.
Have “yoga mat” on your daily pack list? You’ll love our FREE Yoga Guide.
