Two years ago, the worst thing I could have ever done was workout by myself. I was scared to make a fool of myself in front of people I didn’t know and I lacked motivation. I would rely on others to get my workout in, and if none of my friends were available, I wouldn’t workout that day.

   Note: this was a time in my life where I was completely out of shape and had absolutely no self-confidence or love for myself. So, although this is an article all about why going to the gym alone is so much preferable, I do have to give props to my friends, who are the reason I started caring about my body and doing something to improve it in the first place. Without them, I’d still be the couch potato I once was.

   Now, I’m in better shape, and much happier with my body and myself. I appreciate the body I have, and I know now that I can only improve myself further. With this new self-confidence came a love for the gym, and a love for frequenting the gym alone.

   So, without further ado, here are my top 5 reasons why going to the gym alone is actually really great.

   1.  Not having to teach someone how to “use” the gym. There’s nothing I hate more than going to the gym with a friend, especially if sed friend has never been to the gym before. When your friend is new to the gym, he or she will leech onto you; sucking the life and enthusiasm right out of you, leaving you ready to leave before you can even lay a finger on one of those shiny machines. This friend will not know how to hold a weight, what part of the body a squat is meant to define, nor will this friend know that the wipes at the gym are for the equipment, not your face. Dragging this friend around just means you won’t get the full workout you wanted to get in.

   2.   More time to think. Most of my very important life decisions are made in the shower. The rest of them are made at the gym. There’s nothing better than really getting in touch with yourself while running on the treadmill or around the track. You learn a lot about yourself when you really push beyond your limits.

   3.   You really concentrate on what you’re doing. When you’re by yourself, you can fully dedicate all your attention to working out to the fullest, and doing it correctly. You can push yourself harder when you aren’t having a conversation about what Bartels was serving for dinner, and you’ll get more done when you don’t have someone with you to talk about your day.

   4.  You can listen to your music without interruption. Most people, including myself, listen to music while they work out. It helps the person who’s working out really center in on what they’re doing, and there’s nothing more disruptive to your workout than having to pause to listen to another person talk, especially while you’re in your workout zone. No one wants to stop the mini jam session they’re having to Robin Thicke to answer your question about the wipes in the corner. No one.

    5.  No judgment. It’s as simple as that. When you’re by yourself you answer to no one. No one will make you run faster than you can, or do a specific exercise that you already know doesn’t work for you. You’re able to ride your own wave, and do what works for you.