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Wake up, stumble into the shower. Stumble out of the shower and put on the semi-ironed shirt, eat a limp slice of toast and get out the door. Reach work at 9.03 am, trying to avoid any eye contact. Pass the day in a blur of meetings, memos, and missed opportunities. Leave at 4.58 pm, get home, open the fridge to find it a barren landscape. The professional then repeats the circle of television binging and relaxing until the weekend comes, when they will do it all again.
This routine is commonplace for many professionals in today’s job market. Although the 9 to 5 is dying off, the majority of office workers still run their lives with its unforgiving routine. It’s one of the main reasons people give for being unable to get to the gym. “The gym closes at nine and I want to go home first”, “I work until late, everything is closed by then”, these and other variations were common battle cries of the self-pitying office employee.
Now, such arguments are invalid.
The Rise of the 24-hour Gym
The past decade has seen a variety of 24-hour gyms open up. Recognising the fact that not everyone works a 9 to 5 schedule, fitness companies have opened up through the western world, tapping into a previously untouched market. Now the late-night hospitality worker and the early morning business manager can both have access to a place of exercise.
24-Hour gyms work on a fairly simple principle – instead of being signed in and out by a human receptionist, this is now done by a user-specific code number entered into a keypad on a security door. If the code is legitimate, the door allows access to the gym. The doors usually take the form of either a turnstile or a small, two-stage door process to avoid multiple people entering under the one code number.
The increase in off-peak hours – Due to the fact that, across the gym industry, peak hours stay the same while total opening hours’ increase, there are more low-volume times of the day to exercise. This gives gym-goers more of a chance to avoid the busy times of pre-work, lunchtime, and post-work.
24-Hour Access – The main advantage here, is around the clock access. Gym goers can train whenever they please, giving them flexibility in their schedule. All they require is the appropriate entrance feature (a key fob or code) and they can use the gym’s facilities day or night.
Low cost – In comparison to larger gyms – such as Virgin Active and David Lloyd – the membership costs for the 24-hour gyms is low. Standard prices tend to start around £11 per month. Combined with the 24-hour access, this is great for busy individuals who don’t want to sink a large amount of expenditure into fitness due to the unreliability of their schedule.
How Do 24 Hour Gyms Work?
The ease of access and no-nonsense approach to exercise taken at most 24-hour gyms are a pleasant change from the constant barrage of offers at other gyms. 24-hour gyms work by volume; they aim to provide a cheaper service to a larger pool of customers, as opposed to older styles of gym sales which target existing customers for upselling. 24-hour gyms are a refreshing alternative for gym users who simply want to turn up, work out, and head home.
Can Personal Training Improve Productivity?
Not only is exercising beneficial to our physical health, it is also an excellent stress reliever. If you are thinking about investing in a gym membership, there are also emotional benefits that can be gained from exercise. Glasgow Gym, Anytime Fitness, inform their clients that:
“Exercise helps to increase the brain’s production of endorphins, a hormone that makes us feel better physically and emotionally outlook”.
Personal training is the motivation that many professionals need to get started. Personal fitness trainers tend to be available over a larger portion of the day to encourage users to come before and after work. Some gyms allow personal training appointments as early as 6 am and as late as 10 pm. It varies from gym to gym, but the general idea is to make all of the traditional gym services more accessible to the general public.
About the Author
Melissa Lang is a writer from Glasgow, Scotland. Melissa has a keen eye for all things design and in the past has consulted on business branding and marketing.
It’s good to learn that 24-hour gym memberships are cheaper than traditional gyms. My wife and I are looking to get back into exercising and we were wondering if we could find a gym membership that is on the cheaper side. I’ll be sure to look for a 24-hour gym that is close to our home so we could get back into exercising.
Thank you for explaining the benefits of a 24-hour gym. My husband works a lot but he likes to go to the gym. Maybe going to a 24-hour gym will allow him to still workout after work.