You’ve got to respect mothers who are able to juggle raising their children and going to school at the same time. Moms usually work overtime for their families, and going to school while raising a young child must be exhausting.

All teachers should be this understanding. Ultimately their role is to educate, and that education should be allowed to take place no matter its form. We’ve seen more and more stories like this lately, and we love the openness and compassion of the professors.

The pandemic very rapidly forced new methods of teaching upon every teacher in the world. They suddenly had to adapt to video conferencing platforms, digitizing homework, and solitude where there used to be loads of students.

It was completely draining for most educators, yet they still found ways to go above and beyond, like this teacher who sent her students care packages. As a parent, we’d have no doubts this teacher loves our children.

Pottery classes are so much fun. There’s nothing like working with your hands in a very literally hands-on medium, and it’s fun to use cups or bowls you know you made yourself. But, what happens if you can’t finish your pieces?

Your teacher will do it for you — at least, if you’re in this person’s class. It’s so sweet that the teacher thought of them enough while they were in the hospital to make sure they could come back to this beautiful piece.

Issues going on at home for young school-aged students may be more obvious, but college students may be facing issues as well and are just better at hiding it. They may think their professors won’t care about their problems.

This professor did more than show she cared. She took time out of her day to not only purchase this gift for her student — but to also do some research and write such a heartfelt letter. Professors like this don’t come along every day.

In this increasingly digital world, there’s nothing more frustrating than technical difficulties. No matter how well we plan, we can’t control if the WiFi crashes or the video feed is laggy. We just have to roll with it and hope for the best.

This professor didn’t have to do this. A lot of students are upset during or after giving presentations. This email just shows that the professor here cares about the emotional well-being of their students, which makes all the difference.

Finding out that a family member is seriously ill is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a person. The last thing you want to do in that situation is sit in class and think about grades.

Thankfully, this professor understood that when Luke’s grandfather became ill. He also went above and beyond by offering him options that involved getting around the exam he may miss. That’s the kind of professor we all need.

Living in a cross-cultural society can often lead to a lot of confusion. People think that all Spanish-speaking countries and cultures are the same, or that all Asian countries are the same. That’s what this student was experiencing.

This teacher paid enough attention to not only notice the problem, but also teach a lesson about it when she didn’t have to. She both opened those students’ minds and made life easier for the person who shared this story.

Every parent does their best to care for their children, but sometimes things happen that hinder their ability to do simple things — like brush or style their children’s hair. That’s where caring teachers come in.

She didn’t shame this student for his messy hair. She simply helped him brush it, and was doing so much more for him than she could have known. A little compassion goes a long way as a teacher.

Kids learn a lot more at school than simple reading, math, and science skills. They learn how to study, how to work together, how to respect others, and so many more things that are just as important as hard education skills.

This is such a creative way to instill basic ideals in your students — like being kind to others, communicating, and supporting those around you. The kids may think they’re just getting a reward, but they’re doing so much more than that.

Kids doodle. It’s inevitable. Some teachers try to get them to stop doodling during class, but others recognize that just because they’re scribbling on a notepad doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t paying attention.

And some go as far as to actively encourage it, like this teacher. Instead of squashing a student’s passion for drawing, this teacher found a way to incorporate it into his class, allowing that student to express themselves without being disrupted.

Middle and high schoolers go through a lot of hormonal and social changes very rapidly. It’s a very overwhelming time of life. One of the most awkward parts is starting to crush on classmates.

What this tells us is that the student must have been very comfortable with that teacher and trusted her a lot in order to mention her crush by name in her journal. And the teacher subtly supported her.

Teachers often have an impact on our lives long after we leave the classroom. Whether it’s through staying in touch with us or simply lessons that they taught us, they have such big impacts on our lives.

This teacher couldn’t have known that messaging his old student would mean so much. Still, he did it anyway to show how proud he is of his former pupil. That kind of thing can turn a day around.

Mental health is so essential, and something that we should all be more open to talking about. Students are under a lot of pressure, and they should always be reminded that they’re worth more than their grades.

This sounds like a health class, and we love that it was covering mental health. The fact that this teacher took so much time to write personalized notes like this is not something students take lightly. They know how much care that takes.

Teachers go through so much stress. They have meeting after meeting, too much material to teach in too little time, and too many students to try and build meaningful connections within such a short time span.

You may read this decision and think, “Well, shouldn’t you have been doing that in the first place?” But, it’s easy to get caught up in the grind, especially as a high school teacher. We’re glad she came to this conclusion.

Having a pet isn’t too far off from having a child. They’re needy. They need constant attention, feeding, bathing, walking, and stimulation in general. It’s a lot of responsibility for a college student to take on.

After receiving so many emails about missing class, extra credit work, and whatever else professors deal with, something so wholesome must have been a breath of fresh air! We need to know how that class went.

During the holiday of Ramadan, practicing Muslims fast. That means that they can’t consume any food or drink, including water, from sunrise to sunset. It can be really hard when everyone around you is carrying on as normal.

It’s so sweet that this teacher paid enough attention to offer this to this student. Holidays that don’t come with days off are often ignored, so it’s so important that this teacher acknowledged it and gave the student this option!

Something about the pandemic that was really hard on both teachers and students was not being able to sit down and interact face-to-face with each other. It spurred a lot of creative ways of seeing each other, like what this teacher did.

People who don’t live in small communities may not be able to do things like this, but this teacher could, and we bet it made that little girl so happy. Math is something that needs to be worked through together.

The great thing about art is that it gives us a chance to express ourselves. It’s about experimentation. What happens when you mix those colors? What happens if you draw that picture a little differently?

Teachers shouldn’t lie to children, but they should encourage them to learn and to get better at things, which means a lot of positive reinforcement. This is especially important in art classes, where you don’t want to squash their creativity.

We have a tendency to think of college professors as these smart, scary people who don’t really care that much about what happens to us. But, every day, there are professors proving that that isn’t the case at all.

This one is a perfect example. She did more than allow them an extension on an assignment — she recognized that grief is long-term and promised to do the best she could to work with the student. She’d get an A+ in compassion.

There are a lot of systems in the body, and it can be really confusing to try to learn them all and their parts, whether you’re a kid or an adult. Some teachers look for new ways to teach them.

This is the perfect way to make learning about organs and muscles much more realistic. They aren’t 2D, so seeing them on an actual human like this makes it easier to associate what goes where. Hats off to this anatomy teacher.

The great thing about this day and age is that we are all making an effort to be more accepting of those around us, no matter how they identify themselves. One way is by being respectful of terms they prefer when referring to themselves.

Surely the professor knew that it was a joke, but they decided to roll with it, making it a funny experience for both the student and the class. Who votes for “ya boi” to be a new personal pronoun? We do!

It’s unfortunate, but the quality of education that people around the world — or even within the same school system — receive varies drastically. Some just don’t have the opportunity to learn the same skills that others do.

This teacher decided to help people outside of his school who wanted help with math skills by offering free math classes on the street. That’s someone who’s passionate about education and how it can improve our day-to-day lives.

Attending college means studying like you’ve never studied before. It’s a lot more work, and it requires more effort than high school classes do. It’s lots of long nights spent at the campus library cramming for exams and reading class material.

This is a great example of why you shouldn’t be afraid to ask your professors for help. When they’re good professors, they care about the quality of your education, even if it means joining you for a late-night library sesh!

Reading is hard, especially in English. Just when you think you’ve figured out how something sounds, those letters turn around and make different sounds in other words. It’s very frustrating for both kids and English language learners.

This is absolutely genius. She’s using math, a subject the student prefers, to practice reading word problems — and she’s using something funny that makes the kid giggle. It’s definitely one way to keep the little man engaged during the lesson.

Kids care a lot about what the adults in their lives think of them. Even teens, who act like they’re too cool for school, want to do a good job and please those around them. So, when teachers make unpleasant facial expressions while grading assignments, it can be cause for some concern.

This would give us a good laugh as students. We wonder if he changes the hero each time he has to grade something. It’s nice for them to not see his facial expression and feel like he’s judging them.

Teachers deserve a lot more pay for what they do. Not only are they responsible for the intelligence of future generations — but they deal with cranky parents, grumpy kids, and all sorts of other daily problems, yet they still go above and beyond.

What a sweet thing to do! They probably all had a really hard year, including the teacher, and they wanted to show the students that they care. It will be a nice memory to look back on when they’re older.

Some children, for one reason or another, don’t have access to basic personal needs, like a variety of clean clothing or personal hygiene products. While this isn’t the school’s responsibility, most teachers care enough to try and do something about it anyway.

This is the kind of thing that can make a massive difference in someone’s life. So many children are embarrassed to go to school because they don’t have enough clothes or don’t have deodorant. What an amazing initiative.

It’s essential to have appropriate footwear in P.E. class. While kids can technically run or play sports without sneakers, they’re much more likely to injure themselves if they do. So, sneakers are a must.

No teacher wants to see their students struggling, this teacher included, so they took money out of his own pocket to help this student out. They’re not only a great teacher — but they’re also a kind and compassionate person. We want more gym teachers like this.

Teachers with a sense of humor can really change the vibe in a classroom. It often makes the students respect them more, because the students know there’s a balance between learning and personality. This math teacher had both a sense of humor and a mild ego.

They had to have custom-ordered that stamp, which is pretty funny in and of itself. What’s also funny is the last thing kids want for doing well on an exam is to see their teacher’s face more!

Some teachers like to doodle just as much as students, yet don’t have an outlet for it — at least, not at school. So, unless they’re an art teacher, they just have to suppress their urge to doodle.

That is, unless they’re this teacher, who decided to finish doodles that their students start. They’ve got a great sense of humor, but we do have to wonder if their students even understand the reference!

Yearbooks are weird, if you think about it. You get up to 12 books of photos of every single kid in your school, that you may look at every few years or so, and maybe remember a handful of them.

Teachers have to be in yearbooks every year, so some decide to get creative with their photos, like this trio. We love their sense of humor and the kids must look forward to seeing what they do each year.

Sometimes, as a student, you feel like you live on a separate planet from your teachers. They don’t understand your slang or know the music that you listen to. But, not all teachers are that disconnected, as this chemistry teacher proved.

If you’re thinking that this seems familiar but can’t figure out why, it’s the intro to “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga. Chemistry can be tough, so making it funny is a good way to make it feel easier.

Kids love April Fool’s Day. It’s a chance to play minor pranks on other classmates and on your teachers — if they’re one of the cool, laid-back ones. These kids decided to put all their desks on their sides.

When the teacher saw it, they played along, writing all of the text on the board sideways so that their turned-around students could read it. They must have loved that their teacher went along with it instead of getting angry.

Learning how to spell properly is a major part of school. Communication is the most important part of language, but writing in a way others can understand is also extremely important, especially in an increasingly digital world.

This teacher draws funny doodles to point out their students’ spelling mistakes. It shows them how it’s wrong without belittling them. These funny doodles actually make them more likely to remember why it’s wrong, so it’s a win/win for the teacher.

Heterosexuals often take for granted the fact that they don’t have to tell people what kind of people they love. It’s just assumed and widely accepted as normal. Others aren’t so fortunate, like this student.

Who’s cutting onions again? It’s hard not to be teary-eyed at this professor caring so deeply about their student. Everyone deserves to be loved and accepted, so it’s great that this professor could provide that for this student.

Professors spend a lot of time with their students, which means that they often get to know some of them very well. This professor was worried about a student that she hadn’t seen around and did the unexpected.

We know that not every teacher has the funds to do this, so the fact that this professor did and gave to a student so willingly is a testament to why educators are incredible people. If anyone deserves a raise, it’s this woman.

Losing a parent is insanely difficult for anyone, but it’s especially hard on little ones. They’re still at an age where they rely on their parents for everything, so the sudden absence of one is difficult to understand and cope with.

This is both the sweetest thing ever and absolutely heartbreaking. We wouldn’t be surprised if dad presses that cuddle button just as often as his little girl does. That teacher knew perfectly how to help.

Middle school teachers love to tell their students how high school teachers won’t be so forgiving. High school teachers love to say the same about college professors. And in reality, most of them are more laidback than those previous teachers claim.

Take this professor. They’re so laid back that they eat trail mix while grading notebooks. Any student who receives an email like this would have cracked up. Both students and teachers need light moments like this!

Most people can relate to having days in which they feel insecure about their hair. Appearance is especially important to teenagers, who are finding their place in the world and amongst their peers. Good teachers can understand that.

How sweet is it that this teacher took personal time to help a student? They didn’t have to, and the student probably didn’t expect them to. Still, we bet it made the student’s day, which was a great feeling for both of them.

Life goes on whether or not we’re in class, and sometimes, life events can make it hard to pay attention in school. When this student did a poor job on a final due to outside issues and apologized, this is how their professor responded.

This professor’s response to their student admitting their struggles could not have been more perfect. They acknowledge the struggles and put a positive spin on the negativity the student is experiencing. What a wonderful human.

It’s nothing new for teachers to use pictures or movies to enhance the learning experience of their students, to make things a bit more interesting for everyone. This teacher took this to a whole other level with their incredible artistic skills, though.

This is the perfect way for this teacher to combine what we assume are their two great passions — teaching history and drawing incredible whiteboard creations like this one. That’s one way to make sure your students stay invested when learning about the Shang Dynasty.

Sometimes, all a kid needs for their confidence and self-esteem to skyrocket is for a loving adult around them to take an interest and be a role model for them. This teacher was willing to go to whatever lengths to help her student.

In fact, she was happy to lose her long locks if it meant her student felt good with her own haircut. Plus, this is a great way to teach her other students that no one’s gender is based on something as arbitrary as their hair length!

Some teachers are just fine, and you’ll probably forget about them eventually. But, the truly great teachers will stay with you forever, whether or not you stay in touch. This teacher has clearly been keeping tabs on her beloved student.

Having a scientific role model in her teacher seems to have been exactly what this doctor-to-be needed as a kid to believe that she, too, could continue researching the things she loves! This proves how vital teachers are — just like bees!

Losing a loved one is always hard, and being in the middle of your studies when it happens really doesn’t help. Thankfully, if your teacher is compassionate and empathetic, they usually do their best to try to help.

This post shows exactly why it’s so important for teachers to remember that their students are human beings with complex lives and not machines. So, if you ever find yourself in a situation like this, definitely be like prof #2.

Like we’ve said before — juggling school, parenting, and work is really hard for university students. Basically, no matter how hard you try to keep these things separate, they’re bound to mix together on occasion, leaving students desperately trying to do their best.

This professor seems to understand that delicate balance perfectly. But, he refuses to let these unavoidable issues take away from his students’ ability to study well. This is one professor we would be glad to learn from!

While having a dress code for school is important, some schools just take it too far! Especially when it comes to claiming that certain clothes can only be worn by some students and not by others.

These teachers refused to sit quietly when their student was expelled after wanting to wear a skirt. Instead, they decided to protest the school’s decision in the most wholesome way possible — by absolutely rocking skirts themselves!

Do you know how you can tell that a teacher is truly awesome? If their class cares enough about them to throw them a surprise party to celebrate their birthday. Not only did these students do just that for their professor, but they also got him his favorite cake!

They must really love him to know exactly what kind of cheesecake he prefers. The only reason for them to make such an effort is that he really is the best teacher ever! Happy Birthday!

Whether it’s noticing your class is losing focus and changing the entire plan for the day, or finding a solution to logistical issues in the classroom, one of the signs of a truly great teacher is their ability to adapt.

This professor is truly great as he was able to find a way to keep his students engaged and learning despite being thrown into the outdoors with very little warning. He even found a replacement blackboard!

To anyone who possibly thinks that art classes and teachers are unnecessary or overrated, we submit as evidence this absolutely adorable and heartwarming picture of this kid’s joy at receiving art supplies when she couldn’t go to school.

This is all the proof we need to know that art is absolutely essential inside school and outside of it. This gift is just amazing — seriously, how can we get one just like it from her wonderful teacher?

As we’ve said, the holidays are a complicated time, especially for students who are far from home for the very first time or don’t have a good family experience. This teacher definitely understands how difficult it might be.

So, they’ve issued this wholesome and open invitation to join their own family celebrations! It takes a truly kind and empathetic heart to open your own home with this much enthusiasm and joy. Both the good food and joyful heart sound amazing!

As you may know, the price of university textbooks has become beyond absurd in the past few years, with some books costing around $300 on their own! Thankfully, there are some professors who think this is just as crazy as we do!

This professor was more than happy to let their students know that they should avoid using these wonderfully-free resources to find all their textbooks without any of the cost (wink wink). We love a funny and helpful teacher.

By now, we think it’s pretty clear that we absolutely love teachers with a healthy sense of humor — especially if that humor involves an impressive knowledge of current pop culture and memes. This teacher is a winner in our books!

This is how you Rickroll an entire classroom in style! Plus, this just might be the easiest question we’ve ever seen. We love when extra credit is just an excuse to make students laugh and feel good at the end of an exam.

Naps are seriously one of the most underrated things in the world — there’s just nothing like taking a little while to rest your body in the middle of the day. This is especially needed when you’ve been up all night studying.

This teacher absolutely nailed her response to this kid accidentally falling asleep — not only did she let him be, but she made his impromptu nap even better by blocking out the light that could have bothered him. A+ teacher!

Being a teacher truly is a calling — you really have to love both the students and your subject matter. This retired teacher seems completely dedicated to both his love for his students and his passion for chemistry.

That completely explains why he dedicated two decades of his life to stitching this incredible blanket in his free time! Between his chemistry joy and his dedication to crafting, his students surely learned a ton from him!

Here’s another professor who absolutely refuses to let his students have to choose between taking care of their children and their own higher education! When this sweet baby started crying while their mom was taking a quiz, her professor came to the rescue!

He made sure to entertain the sweet child, even going down on his knees to make sure the baby was well-fed and well-behaved. This way, the whole class could take their quiz in silence, plus the professor had something fun to do to pass the time!

Adjusting to life in school is really difficult for a child. They want to play and explore the world, rather than sit at a desk or do homework. Thankfully, more and more teachers seem to be recognizing and accepting that.

It’s so important for us to recognize things that aren’t working in order to grow, both in our personal lives and in our professional ones. This teacher did exactly that, and those parents and children must be so grateful.

High school graduation is a monumental moment for most young people, especially those who were struggling throughout their education — whether financially, emotionally, or physically. So, when this school’s ridiculous policy almost didn’t let a student walk, his teacher found a quick solution.

That student will remember this teacher’s kindness for the rest of their life, and also have a funny story to tell. We hope the school reconsidered the ridiculous policy in later years.

Teachers often become like another set of parents to their students due to the sheer amount of time they spend with them. So, teachers should be aware of what’s going on at home in order to do the best they can for the kids.

This is such a great way of making sure to go easy on the kid with the bad attitude without invading the family’s privacy. If we were parents of kids in this class, we’d be grateful for such a compassionate teacher.

Thanksgiving is a hugely important holiday for most Americans. It’s a time to get together with those we love, much in the same way Christmas is for most others around the world. So, being away at college for Thanksgiving can be hard.

Add pandemic limitations to that homesickness, and it’s the perfect recipe for a very lonely holiday. This professor’s offer is truly above and beyond. Who here started cutting onions? Our eyes are very misty reading this.

Cycling is a fantastic sport. It’s a way to stay active and it’s better for the environment than cars. But, it can also be dangerous to be on the road with so many larger, faster vehicles, so accidents do happen.

This is one of the cutest things ever. We bet he was a science teacher, because they’re usually the ones who find the most creative ways possible to teach by demonstration and relating to real life.

For lots of people, going to the gym can be a little intimidating. Maybe it’s the unfamiliar equipment, or perhaps it’s the rows of bulked-up muscle heads – either way, the gym can be an acquired taste. However, there are lots of tips, tricks, and pieces of insider information that can make going to the gym a more pleasant experience. Check out our list of gym secrets that usually don’t go past the front doors.

Just like any other retail or service establishment, gyms are businesses. This means that their number one priority is to make money and that they might use a couple of marketing tricks to get you inside.

According to this first post, lots of gyms are purposely laid out so that they seem welcoming and calming on first appearance. Then, they spring the weights on you. This is like supermarkets where items like bread are at the back of the store so you have to walk through everything else.

One of the reasons lots of people stay away from the gym is that they’re worried about what their fitness instructor will think of them. The thing is, instructors or personal trainers expect to work with people of all levels. They don’t work on a reality show, they work in real life!

For this particular trainer, someone’s blood pressure and sleep quality are much more important than how they look. So, there’s really no need to fret about how you compare with others.

Recently, we’ve all learned just how make-or-break handwashing and not touching your face can be. This is particularly true in a gym, where potentially hundreds of people have been dripping sweat and exhaling all in the same enclosed space. When you think about it, it’s pretty gross.

Gyms are packed with up-close contact and sweaty bodies, and that leads to fungi, bacteria, and viruses aplenty. Do yourself a favor and put some hand sanitizer in your gym bag.

This next secret is one you’ll want to pay attention to whether you’re thinking about signing up for a gym membership, already have one, or in the midst of canceling yours. Now, although this secret doesn’t pertain to all gyms, it’s important to track your bank statement in order to make sure that you’re not being charged for a terminated membership.

While we’d like to think that all professional businesses handle their customers with care, that’s unfortunately not always the case. So, better to be safe than sorry!

Controversially, our next gym employee tells us that annual gym memberships aren’t worth the price. Interesting! This person claims that annual memberships are presented as the best value option, but they don’t actually guarantee that you’ll show up regularly over the course of the year.

This person suggests that buying an annual gym membership feels like a satisfying action, but doesn’t necessarily lead to any results. Instead, they recommend setting short-term goals to keep your motivation high.

Remember when we said that gyms are seriously nasty? Well here’s more proof. This person specifically warns against the 30lb dumbbells at the YMCA, claiming that they’ll give you worms. Excuse us while we run into the distance screaming.

Because gyms are hotspots for bacteria, viruses, and fungi, you can indeed catch ringworm from the gym. To avoid catching these parasitic nasties, wash your hands, don’t share towels, and always wipe down your equipment. Don’t forget your hand sanitizer!

This next one isn’t so much a secret as much as it is a tip — what not to do at the gym. Even if you’re not an avid gym-goer, it’s important to understand all the rules and learn proper gym etiquette.

Now, if you’ve ever gone to the gym, you can understand what this Reddit user means. It can be pretty frustrating to walk over to a piece of equipment only to find that someone has left their belongings as a way to “save” their spot. Sorry, people, but that custom doesn’t apply here!

As well as popping some hand sanitizer in your gym bag, consider just keeping it with you at all times. If you always have a workout outfit in your car, then you’re much more likely to stop at the gym when you’re out and about.

Grabbing a prepacked bag is much easier than rushing around throwing items together, and it means you’re ready to go at any time. Simply exchange your sweaty clothes for a clean pair and you’re good to go!

Plenty of gym-goers just want to arrive at the gym, put their headphones in, and go. These people don’t want chit-chat, they don’t want tips on their form, they just want to work out and go home. Basically, headphones are the universal sign for “leave me alone.”

This handy gym tip is particularly useful for women. Unfortunately, plenty of women are hit on at the gym when they’d rather be lifting weights instead. Pass the AirPods, please!

This next gym secret is all about the bigger picture. According to this person, rather than dabbling with marathon running and extreme diets, people that want to lose weight should stick to the process.

We think that this person means that it’s better to have a long-term, regular workout plan than to do extreme things every now and then. This person wisely points out that it’s costly and time-consuming to recover after extreme approaches.

Although some people are dedicated gym-goers, there are others that don’t have the same kind of willpower to keep up with a consistent regiment. Whether you’ve been working long hours or simply can’t find a babysitter to watch the kids, it’s perfectly understandable that you can’t make it to the gym every day — you’re human!

This Reddit user understands your pain. When asked what they wish they knew when they first joined the gym, this poster didn’t hold back one bit and admitted that they stopped going to the gym after a week. We can appreciate the honesty!

An unnerving aspect of going to the gym is the paranoia that other people are looking at you. Let’s be honest — these are rooms with lots of mirrors and plenty of people who care about their physical appearance.

The thing is, while outward appearance may be part of the picture, it’s not on everyone’s mind inside the gym itself. According to this person, if anyone does happen to be looking at you, it’s for innocent enough reasons.

Here’s a bit of strategic info from a gym employee. While gyms usually go into overdrive at the beginning of a new year, that’s not necessarily the best time to sign up. Sure, you might get a good deal in January, but you’ll also be competing for equipment with other people trying to achieve their new year’s resolution.

The advice? Just wait a few months until the newbies have disappeared. Once January has calmed down, you’ll have a better gym experience.

When it comes to the actual nitty-gritty of exercising, we don’t know what to believe. Of course, it’s good to move your body, but there are so many conflicting reports on which type of exercise is best. According to this personal trainer, cardio isn’t the be-all and end-all of weight loss.

Indeed, some experts do say that too much cardio can be bad for you. While cardio does burn energy, it can be tough on joints and muscle tissue.

This next gym secret is short and simple. While it might be intimidating to be one of the only skinny or muscle-free people in your gym, you aren’t the only one to ever be in that position. In fact, every single person in there started off less fit and less swole than when they started.

This is another reason to draw on the experiences of other gymgoers, but also just a nice reminder that we all have to start somewhere.

While it’s difficult to know what to believe when it comes to exercise, it’s even more of a minefield when it comes to diet. We’ve heard all sorts of claims over the years, and personal trainers are full of their own ideas and methods.

This gym employee points out that just because you’ve started working out, that doesn’t mean you can eat the same way you did before. According to this person, with the right diet, you only need to hit the gym three times a week.

Basically, any gym employee or seasoned weight lifter will tell you that using proper form is more important than lifting heavy weights. Without proper form, you’re much more likely to injure yourself and could cause long-term pain or discomfort. Instead, ask one of those muscle heads at the gym.

Proper form for lifting includes maintaining good posture, looking straight ahead, and not twisting as you lift. Despite popular opinion, lifting heavy things actually does have a technique.

Refreshingly, this gym employee says that it’s better to just avoid diets altogether. This is music to our ears, especially because dieting often causes stress and ultimately results in an unhealthy relationship with food.

This person points out that diets often derail people’s workout plans. When you’re restricting your eating and working out at the same time, it can stress out the body and cause what this person calls “malfunctions.” Carbs aren’t the enemy, they’re just a good source of energy.

There are numerous ways that gyms try to make us feel guilty. After all, their whole business model is about telling us we aren’t good enough and need to get through the doors. Without some psychological trickery, we could all be running around outside for free instead of handing over cash to walk on a treadmill.

One such trick is personal trainers themselves. If we commit to seeing one, the guilt of letting them down usually works as a pretty good motivator.

Our next gym bunny is pretty territorial over their workout space. According to this person, you shouldn’t bother comparing yourselves with other people in the gym because you probably have wildly different lifestyles.

This person says that being in great shape requires a drastic lifestyle change, not just a few trips to the gym. So, next time you find yourself wondering how someone else in the gym looks so great, consider that they probably spend hours there every day.

We just talked about how personal trainers can be pretty effective guilt trips. If some jacked-up dude looks at you funny every time you miss a session, you’re less likely to skip a workout. However, apparently, there’s a whole bunch of people who like to get in shape before seeing their trainer.

This reminds us of those people who like to clean before their cleaner arrives. It obviously makes no sense, but it speaks to the psychological effect of having a trainer.

While plenty of people consider the gym a punishing place to go, others recognize it as somewhere full of positive people and motivation. While gyms might summon up scenes of dumbbells and serious stances, there are also places with yoga, steam rooms, and a bunch of people who like to keep moving.

It’s possible that changing your attitude to the gym will change how you spend time there. If you think of gym people as positive, you might enjoy your time there more.

Well, here you have it again. Here’s another gym employee reminding us that proper form is more effective than higher weight with poor form. It’s annoying, but it’s the truth. As we’ve said, using proper form means you’re less likely to strain, sprain, tear or break anything.

Plus, using proper form means you’re using your energy in the most effective way. Rather than wasting it on the wrong muscles, proper form allows you to use your energy for that extra push.

Here’s another positive observation from a gym-goer. Whilst lots of people do end up feeling insecure in the gym, this person says they find it inspiring to watch people start their fitness journey.

For this fitness fan, seeing people take charge of their lives through exercise is inspirational as you can see them realize that they’re in control. Perhaps thinking of the gym as an inspiring place rather than an intimidating one could make all the difference.

We’re on board with part of this next piece of advice, but we can’t verify any scientific claims about exercise. This fitness instructor says that a workout with selfies and music is “almost meaningless” because you’ll end up overloading your nervous system.

We’re willing to bet that our nervous systems can handle a bit of Britney while we run, but we think we get the point. Overall, it’s better to focus on the task at hand rather than sending Snapchats to your pals.

We’ve had a few pieces of advice along these lines, and here’s another gym employee telling us to trust the buff dudes. According to this person, gym muscle heads aren’t interested in patronizing you or looking down on your technique – they just want to help!

Taking people’s advice in the gym is generally a good idea, otherwise, you might end up with a bunch of painful, unintended injuries. So, next time a buff man criticizes your squat, maybe listen to them.

Fitness centers and gyms can play host to all sorts of big egos. Let’s be honest — with that many mirrors and muscly men, there’s bound to be a bit of unspoken competition going on. However, it’s best to avoid this immature posturing and actually take a break when you need to.

While it might seem athletic to push yourself past your limits, it’s actually just a good way of getting injured. Rather than trying to beat your neighbor, just try and beat yourself.

Again, we won’t pretend to know anything about actual physical science and nutrition, but this person claims that you can eat whenever you want when you work out. While people have long believed in an “anabolic window” where it’s best to eat within 30 minutes of exercising, there isn’t much evidence to back this up.

According to this person, and other experts, it’s more about eating the right amount of calories than eating them in a particular window of time.

Some people think that going to the gym is enough. They arrive, put on their headphones, and mosey around the machines. They do 15 minutes on the treadmill, 10 minutes on the rowing machine, and then head off to the mats to finish up with some squats.

While this might end up being a reasonable workout, it’s much more efficient to come to the gym with a workout plan. Figuring something out that meets your fitness goals is better than just making it up as you go along.

For many people, going to the gym is synonymous with using weight machines. In fact, a bunch of people go to the gym just to lift heavy objects and have no intention of breaking a sweat with cardio. While lifting weights may seem appealing, it’s actually not a suitable exercise for everyone.

This gym instructor claims that weight machines are best for people with injuries or for bodybuilders looking to bulk up. Because the machines work just one muscle, they don’t provide a full-body workout.

Our next gym secret is actually a good tip for life in general — find something you enjoy. Once you start doing something that you actually like, you’re much more likely to keep doing it. If exercise is considered a punishment, why would you ever be motivated to do it?

This person advises finding something you enjoy in the gym. It might be a certain machine, it could be a great album for running, or it could be the feeling you get from working out a particular area.

Nowadays, a lot of people turn to social media platforms for their fitness content. However, this gym instructor claims that “normal” fitness professionals don’t have a huge Instagram following because they’re too busy working.

While some well-known faces might have millions of followers online, that doesn’t necessarily tell you anything about their skills. After all, social media is home to all sorts of fakery. Instead, ask your friends and family and see if you can get a personal recommendation.

We like this next savvy gym secret that promises to get you fit and caught up with your favorite series. This person recommends choosing a TV show that you only watch while working out. That way, when you really want to see what happens in the next episode, you have to get your sneakers on and do something.

This is a good tip because it works on a psychological level. Watching Netflix at the gym will eventually feel normal, making working out much easier.

We’ve seen this type of tip already, but it’s worth hearing it one more time. While it’s perfectly natural to feel shy in the gym, nobody is really paying attention to you. Instead, you’re probably dealing with spotlight syndrome, where you think there’s a spotlight on you but really everyone is just worrying about themselves.

Once you get used to working out without fear of judgment, you’ll have a much more positive experience at the gym.

Finally, we close our list of gym secrets with a very important piece of advice. According to this person – and all wise gym-going folks – when something hurts, stop. Now, of course, there’s going to be a little bit of dull pain when pushing yourself with a higher weight.

However, there should never be sharp, stabbing pain. For this reason, if anything at all doesn’t feel quite right while working out, then listen to your body and stop.