The 7 gym-Shower Commandments (plus one extra)
Gyms are temples of sweat, strength... and secondhand cringe. Step into the locker room, and it’s game on: the guy walking around like he’s at a nudist retreat, the one taking a Netflix-length shower, or the loud phone call guy. Don’t be that person. We’ve gathered the essential etiquette guide to gym showers. Read it, absorb it, and be the change you wish to see (and smell) in the world.
1. Small talk is fine — preferably with pants on
Ran into your coworker? Bumped into your ex’s dad mid-shower? A subtle nod is plenty.
Golden rule: conversations flow better when everyone’s at least in their underwear. If it’s more than a “hey,” save it for when you’re both dressed. Networking in the nude is still too niche (unless you’re on a survival reality show).
2. The bench is not your walk-in closet
We get it: your gym bag has more accessories than a magician’s prop kit. But that doesn’t mean they need to be spread out across three benches. Everyone has the same square footage. Nobody wants to play Twister while dodging someone else’s shaving foam and wet towel.
Share the bench like you’d share a pizza: no hogging, equal slices.
3. Showers are for showering. Period.
Not for nose-clearing (Jackson Pollock-style), not for peeing, not for trimming toenails. Yes, water washes it away — but it also washes away our collective faith in humanity.
4. If there’s a queue, it’s F1 mode
Got the shower to yourself? Take your time.
But if people are waiting, it’s soap-rinse-done. Think pit stop, not spa day. You’ll thank the next person when they return the favor.
5. Your phone doesn’t need to join you
Sure, it’s not a cinema, but it’s not your personal DJ booth either. Keep the playlists and loud convos out of the shower zone. If a call comes in and it lasts more than 5 minutes, step out and call back.
Pro tip: silence your phone if it’s in your locker — nobody wants to hear your WhatsApp pings on loop with no owner in sight.
6. Flip-flops are the new neckties
Yes, fungus is the eternal reason. But shower sandals are also a signal — of hygiene, respect, even class. You might be the cleanest person on earth, but it’s always better to look the part.
7. My eyes are up here
We get it, sometimes you glance. But the unwritten rule of locker room eye contact? Always aim for eye-to-eye. And ideally, at the same level. Avoiding awkward vertical gazes prevents your gym buddy from having to talk to your bits like they’re giving an award speech.
Bonus: Be chill, not disruptive
Every gym has its own vibe. Some are strict, some are relaxed. But one thing’s universal: respect. Everyone wants to get in and out of the shower without added weirdness — and you can help make that happen.
Ever spotted these species at your gym?
Or worse… felt called out?
Tell us your most “WTF” locker room moment in the comments — and if you don’t want to end up as someone else’s story, now you know what to do.