Wilfrid Laurier University’s Athletic Complex has two floors, a climbing wall, four studios and more than 50 pieces of equipment to support a wide range of fitness needs. However, with more than 20,000 students enrolled at the university, the gym can often feel so busy that finding an open bench requires waiting behind a line of people.
The question then becomes: when is the best time to go to the gym?
You might think arriving at 6 a.m. is your safest option, but on Mondays, when everyone is trying to get a head start on the week, that can actually be one of the busiest times to go.
I spoke with N.M., a regular gym-goer who also works as a personal trainer and front desk associate at the Athletic Complex. Here is their advice for each day of the week:
Monday – “You shouldn’t go. Haha, just kidding. But I would say because this is the day everyone goes, get there earlier rather than later. 6–9 a.m. would be best. The busiest times would be 5–8 p.m.”
Tuesday and Wednesday – “Same as Monday. Definitely get there earlier rather than later.”
Thursday – “It isn’t as busy. Sometimes people go out on Thursdays, so you could get to the gym at night if you wanted (after 6 p.m.). Earlier would be ideal, but you wouldn’t get caught in a rush at night.”
Friday – “You can get away with going a bit later in the morning. Around 10 a.m. to noon would be fine. After that, people like to get there before their plans for the night, so any time after 5 p.m. would be okay.”
Saturday and Sunday – “Mornings are absolutely dead. These are typically people’s rest days, so you’d be okay to go any time before 4 p.m. However, I’d say the night can be busier than you’d expect, so maybe go earlier in the day.”
In summary, it’s generally better to go earlier rather than later throughout the week. If you can’t bring yourself to wake up for a 7 a.m. alarm, though, you’ll still find plenty of opportunities to avoid the crowds on most days.
Mondays, however, are a different story. Personally, I refrain from being within 200 feet of the gym on a Monday after 7 a.m.
N.M. also noted that women may find the gym more accessible during the morning hours, particularly between 7 and 9 a.m., when the facility tends to be less crowded and the overall experience is often smoother.
Contributed photo by Nate Dawes
