Picture this. You stayed a couple of hours longer at work finishing a project for your boss. After that, you rush home to grab something to eat and immediately go to do your workout. But as you arrive in front of your gym, you realise that you forgot your gym shoes. That’s it, training session ruined.

Don’t worry, we have all been there. Our modern, hectic lives allow little room to slow down and fully address the task in front of us, even if it’s something as simple as packing our gym bags. So, to help you put at least this task on autopilot, we have created a list of five essential things that all gym bags should have.

A bottle of H2O

First and foremost, you need a bottle of water in your bag. Staying hydrated should be your number one concern during a physically taxing workout. Otherwise, you are risking your health. Dehydration can cause serious problems, from nausea to loss of consciousness.

Sure, you can buy a bottle of water at almost every gym for a couple of dollars, but that is just financially irresponsible. So, buy one of those durable gym bottles that will last you for years, and fill it up before you leave your home.

Your training gear

After you pack some H2O, it’s time to load your workout gear. You don’t want to go to the gym and train in the same clothes that you came in. Furthermore, most gyms require you to wear at least a clean pair of shoes.

While working out in a plain white t-shirt and shorts is possible, if you want to stay comfortable, you need to get some proper sportswear. Workout clothes are their own category for a reason; besides offering comfort, sportswear will help keep sweating under control, as well as offer safety support. So, look for fitness & sports clothing online if you don’t already have workout gear. There are countless brands offering everything from yoga pants to weightlifting belts.

A small towel

Next, you should pack one small towel. Wiping the sweat with your t-shirt is the worst thing that you can do. Obviously, it’s gross, but it is also extremely unhygienic. If you want to avoid skin irritation, rashes, pimples, and even infections forming on your face, then pack a clean towel to wipe off your sweat.

Also, if you sweat a lot and you don’t want to leave sweat stains on machines after using them, don’t use your face towel to wipe them off. Instead, pack a separate one and lay it on the bench before you start using the machine.

A hygiene kit

A hygiene kit is a must. Don’t think that you won’t get an infection just because your home is a 15-minute ride from the gym. If you cannot take a shower right after your workout, then pack a dry shampoo. These things will clean you up so that you don’t have to run under the shower immediately.

However, don’t mistake them for a complete shower; think of dry shampoos as an excellent short-term solution, but you will have to wash yourself properly. Also, consider packing deodorant, baby wipes, a clean pair of socks, etc., anything that will help you clean yourself up after a hard workout.

Some entertainment

Finally, you can’t go to the gym without some entertainment. While gyms do play music, let’s face it, it’s usually trash. In most cases, people bring their own music that helps them pump up for the workout, but we recommend something different. Consider downloading some podcasts or audiobooks about topics that interest you. Not only will they make your workout more exciting, but you will learn a thing or two as well.

As you can see, the list doesn’t have anything out of the ordinary. After all, it’s about the essentials we cannot train without. So, next time you start packing your gym bag, make sure you do this 5-step check. Simply, count these five items from our list, and you are ready to sweat it out.