Gyms are good. They’re full of trainers, machines, and music that will get you fit and keep you on a path towards life-long healthy living. I’m a huge fan of them, and as I grow this site with you, the readers, I’m going to be talking about how to get the absolute most out of your gym membership.

But the other day I was thinking a little bit about the psychology of going to the gym — and some of the benefits that come with having a dedicated place to workout, a place that isn’t just the open streets (if you’re a runner) or your basement (if you’re a home gym fan).

So I came up with these two hidden benefits that start working as soon as you start your gym membership.

First: When You Pay, You Go.

Ponying up the money for a proper membership at your gym can have a strange effect on how you frequent the place. If you break down your monthly fee by how many times you hit the gym each month, you can get a sense of how much you’re spending each time you do a workout.

It’s been scientifically proved that workers who figure out exactly what they’re being paid per hour — even if they’re on a $60,000/year salary — see their time at work as more valuable and happier. If you know you’re netting $60 for the time you put in on a particular project, it’s possible to feel all the better for it.

While this same policy doesn’t exactly translate over to the gym — as it’s something you’re paying for, not being paid for — employing the same system can be helpful. When you know exactly how much you’re spending on a gym visit, it can help you form a regular habit to make sure you get your money’s worth. After all — if you skip an entire month and only go to the gym once? That’s one expensive visit.

Second: Compartmentalization is Good.

I’m all for home gyms and setting up a great way to work out at home. As I say frequently on the site — whatever works best for you is the fitness route you should be following, not a pre-ordained plan that you absolutely must stick to, 100% of the time.

But having a gym to go to — and the fact that there’s a separate environment, other people working out, a place to get changed and shower, and machines dedicated to getting you into better shape — all of these things can really help get you over the psychological humps that make people put off a workout for another day.

It’s like people who work from home — most of the time, they find that it’s impossible to work in your pyjamas, next to the bed — your brain just can’t get into that work-mode if you stay in morning-sleep mode. Same goes for working out — it needs space, and a dedicated gym is the ultimate expression of that space.

Your Thoughts!

Do any of you have any stories about your gym and its place (mentally, physically, etc) in your lives? For some people, the gym is what a social club or sporting club was to generations past. I’m really interesting in hearing how various people around the world approach gyms — just get in and out, do your workout quickly and go? Or spend some time, and dedicate a good portion of your day to physical fitness? Leave your thoughts in the comments!