How to Display Women's Locker Room Etiquette

You've got a goal--to get fit. That's great. You've signed up for a year at your local gym and your gym bag is already packed. You may think you have all you need, but wait. Do you know the proper locker room etiquette? That's right. There's a whole set of rules about what to do and not to do in the locker room.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Get naked if you must, but do it quickly. Remember that everyone is different, and may be more uncomfortable with nudity than you are. If you must walk more than a few feet to the shower, don't start walking without your towel. And please don't sit down on the bench naked without laying your towel down first.
2. Respect the space of others. Don't spread out all your belongings so that they cover the counter or hog two lockers with all of your stuff. Remember the others need to take showers too, so save some hot water for them.
3. Don't strike up conversations with strangers, especially if you are naked or getting dressed. It can be awkward to try to make friendly conversation in a locker room. But if you see someone you know, it's a little different. Don't treat them any different than if you saw them fully clothed at the grocery store, but keep the conversation light.
4. Give the people some space. There's no reason you have to take the locker next to one that's already occupied unless the locker room is really crowded.
5. Clean up after yourself. Don't leave your workout clothes in a heap in front of your locker. Instead, bring along a plastic bag and place your clothes in the bag, place the bag in the locker and shut the door. Leave your area cleaner than it was when you arrived.
6. Don't stretch in the locker room. There are plenty of places in the gym to do so.
7. Turn off the cell phone or change it to vibrate mode in the locker room, then return your calls when you leave the gym. It's not fair to share the juicy details of your love life with unsuspecting gym patrons.