Hello! Trying to plan a workout routine for when I start college this fall. However, I prefer to work out when it isn't too crowded. Does anyone know when college gyms tend to have fewer people? Is there a specific time of day I might look into?
Based on general observations, college gyms typically see lower foot traffic during class hours, for instance between 10 AM and 2 PM on weekdays. This is when most students are in lectures or discussion sessions and generally not focusing on fitness.
Another less crowded time period is in the early morning, before classes start. Many people might not be morning people or would rather use that time to prepare for the day, so there could be fewer gym-goers then.
Yet, keep in mind that timing can greatly depend on the culture and rhythm of your specific campus. You can gauge the patterns in the first few weeks of school and then adjust your routine accordingly. Also, check if your gym has any sort of "live count" feature on its website or app; some gyms offer this and it can give you a real-time look at how crowded the gym is.
Lastly, consider non-peak seasons. For instance, right after New Years, when people have fitness resolutions, or during midterm and final seasons, the gym might be more crowded. In contrast, the gym may be less crowded during the first few weeks of the semester, or over school breaks (if you happen to be around).
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