Headphones So Loud That Gym Etiquette Gets Ignored
The other night on shift, I was doing the usual: tidying weights, resetting the gym, making sure everything was safe for the next morning. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a girl walk away from a fully loaded barbell.
Now normally, I’d just sigh, put it on the ever-growing pile of things to re-rack, and move on. But this time I thought, nope — she’s right there, I’ll just politely ask her.
So, with my usual smile, I said: “Hey, could you put the barbell away please?”
She looked at me… smiled back… grabbed her barbell pad… and skipped off.
When Headphones Become Earplugs
Here’s the thing: her headphones were so loud, I don’t think she even heard me. So I tried again. Smiling. Gesturing. Repeating myself; my autistic brain doesn’t allow me to just let it slide.
Eventually she caught on. But instead of re-racking, she ripped the clips off, threw them on the floor, yanked off a plate and dumped it with a bang. Then came the line:
“I pay to come here. You work here. You put it away.”
Why This Isn’t About Being ‘Bossy’
Let me be clear: it is not my job to put your weights away.
My job is to keep the gym safe.
My job is to support beginners and help people avoid injuries.
My job is to create a space that feels welcoming for everyone.
When you walk away from a loaded bar, you’re not just skipping a chore. You’re leaving behind something heavy that someone else might not be able to move, and for a beginner, that’s enough to stop them even trying.
Gym Etiquette
Gym etiquette isn’t about being perfect, following some secret rulebook, or making the gym feel like school. It’s about respect.
Respect for the space, respect for the staff, and respect for the people training alongside you. It’s the small habits that make the biggest difference; re-racking your weights, wiping down your bench, not hogging equipment, keeping noise to a reasonable level. None of these things take much time or effort, but together they create a safer, more welcoming environment.
For me, gym etiquette is what turns a gym from just a building with weights into a community where everyone can feel confident and included.
My Brain is Neurodivergent
For me, following the rules isn’t optional. My autistic brain latches on to them like Velcro. If there’s a sign that says “Please re-rack your weights”, I can’t just ignore it, and I can’t ignore it when other people do either.
So yes, I stood there smiling and repeating myself until she finally did it. Not because I love confrontation (far from it), but because I know the rules are there for a reason: safety, respect, and accessibility.
If your headphones are so loud you can’t hear someone politely ask you to put your weights away, maybe turn them down. Respect in the gym starts with listening. And when it comes to re-racking your weights, it only takes a few extra seconds.
Gym Accessibility
If you’ve been following me for a while, you will know that gym accessibility is something I am very keen to explore more and to improve. When you’re anxious, neurodivergent or struggle with overwhelm then new places like a gym can be places to avoid rather than places to enjoy.
Health and fitness should be about finding joy in movement and finding strength in who you are.
