How to Be Prepared for Gym at School (Girls)

Co-authored by Paige Bowen, MA, EdM and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: August 12, 2022

Starting a new school year is stressful enough, and having to prepare for gym class can add another layer to that stress. If you don’t love exercising or you’re worried about not being prepared to sweat at school, it can be daunting to try to pack up everything you need for the next day. Fortunately, you only need to worry about bringing a few basic items with you to be ready for gym class every day.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Gathering Your Gym Clothes

1
Find a small gym bag to pack your items into. You probably don’t want to lug around a giant bag along with your backpack every day. If you can, try to find a small, compact bag that you can carry around and fit your gym essentials into.^{[1]
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- Drawstring bags are super nice for gym, and they’re small enough that you can shove them into your backpack if you want to.
2
Pack your clean gym clothing to change into. Unless your gym period is the first period of the day, you probably don’t want to wear your gym clothes to school. Make sure you grab your pants or shorts and your T-shirt so you can wear it when it’s time for class.^{[2]
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- Try to bring your uniform home to wash it at least once a week, or more often if you can.
- If you don’t have a gym uniform, you can pack some workout pants or shorts, like sweatpants or basketball shorts, and a loose fitting T-shirt.
- Some schools allow students to wear gym clothes to school during days with gym class. This may be because of time constraints, no changing rooms in the school, or precautions during the coronavirus pandemic. If this is the case, you don't need to change back into your regular school clothes.
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3
Grab a sports bra to wear underneath your uniform. If you’ve started wearing a bra, you may want to bring one that’s specific for exercising in, so you stay comfortable. If you don’t have a sports bra, talk to your parents about buying one so you can be more prepared for gym.^{[3]
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- Sports bras provide extra support while you run, jump, or jog around.
4
Choose shoes that lace up, like sneakers. Most gym teachers won’t allow you to wear open-toed shoes, like sandals or flats. Try to pack comfortable sneakers that you can exercise in.^{[4]
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- Some gym teachers won’t let you participate in class unless you’re wearing exercise shoes, so it’s super important that you remember your sneakers.
5
Bring socks to wear with your sneakers. There’s nothing worse than getting to gym class and realizing that you’ll have to wear your sneakers without socks. Pack a few pairs of socks so you can leave one in your locker in case you accidentally forget next time.^{[5]
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- Ankle socks usually look the best with sneakers, but you can wear any kind of socks that you’d like.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Bringing Hygiene Items and Other Essentials

1
Take a hair band with you to put your hair up. When you exercise, your face can get a little sweaty. To keep your hair out of the way, make sure you bring a few hair bands to put your hair up into a ponytail or bun. You can even do some quick French braids if you have the time!^{[6]
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- If you have pretty short face-framing layers or bangs, try wearing a headband to keep your hair out of your face.
2
Bring your makeup if you’d like to reapply it after class. If you’ve started putting on a little makeup before school, grab a few essentials that you’d like to freshen yourself up with after class. Powder can help to take away any shine on your skin, while mascara can open up your eyes and make you look more awake.^{[7]
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- If you don’t want to wear makeup, that’s fine too! It’s not for everyone.
3
Grab some deodorant and perfume to clean yourself up with. Everyone gets a little sweaty during gym class, which is totally normal. Pack some nice smelling deodorant, perfume, or body spray to use on yourself so you smell good when you go to your next class.^{[8]
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- This is especially important to pack if you aren’t going to take a shower after class.
4
Pack shampoo and soap if you’re going to take a shower. Some gym classes require that you take a shower afterwards. If you have to, make sure you pack a small shower caddy with shampoo, conditioner, soap, and a washcloth so you can clean yourself up after gym class. ^{[9]
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- You might also need to bring a towel if you’re going to shower after class.
- You may also want to bring some shower sandals or flip flops, so you don’t have to walk barefoot in the locker room.
- Having the option to take a shower after class is nice so you can wash away all the sweat before heading to your next class.
5
Throw in a water bottle and a snack if you need it. It’s always nice to grab a quick bite to eat before you go to your next class. Try packing a granola bar and a small water bottle so you can eat and hydrate after gym. ^{[10]
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- If your gym class is close to lunch time, you don’t need to bring a snack.
6
Pack some pads and tampons in case you get your period. If you’ve started getting your period, you probably know how annoying it is to be caught without any pads or tampons. Try adding a few extra feminine products to your locker or gym bag in case you need one during school. ^{[11]
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Tip: Tampons can be more comfortable to wear when you’re exercising since they don’t move around or bunch up like pads do. However, if you’ve never worn a tampon before, you don’t have to!

Expert Q&A
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Question

What shoes do you wear for PE?

Paige Bowen, MA, EdM
Physical Education Teacher
Paige Bowen is a Physical Education Teacher at Oconee County Primary School in Watkinsville, Georgia. Paige has over 20 years of physical education teaching experience. She was awarded the Oconee County Primary School Teacher of the Year for 2002-2003. She received a B.S.Ed. in Health and Physical Education from the University of Georgia in 1996 and an M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education in 2003 from the same institution.

Paige Bowen, MA, EdM

Physical Education Teacher

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Shoes with laces are the best for gym class. On the other hand, shoes that don't cover the toes or heel, like flip-flops and sandals, and shoes that go up past the ankle, like boots, are not good for doing physical activities.
Question

What should I do if my gym teacher doesn't let us bring water bottles outside?

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See if there's a drinking fountain nearby that you can stop at to get a quick drink. Or, fill up your water bottle before class and leave it in your locker so you can hydrate after class.
Question

How do you warm up before PE class?

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Your gym teacher should lead you in some basic warm ups, like jumping jacks, running in place, or squats before you start exercising. If you want to do those on your own before class, you definitely can!