Working Out With Social Media

Social exercise apps can be helpful, but they shouldn’t be stressing us out

By Holly Gilvary

Every few days or so, as I’m scrolling through my phone or simply pulling up my screen to check the time, I get a notification from the Nike Training Club app with messages such as “Try this new at-home workout for shredded abs,” or “This quick glute-burner is only 15 minutes—no excuses.” I like to think that I’m neutral about these notifications; I usually dismiss them  without a second thought. But I’d be lying if I said there isn’t a slight twinge of guilt I feel after reading them: Why aren’t I making time for a 15-minute workout? Am I lazy? Unmotivated? Should I be taking these notifications more seriously?

Social exercise apps were a decent substitute for in-person fitness classes and gyms when the pandemic was at its peak. Even if we had to work out from home, we could at least do it simultaneously with our friends and share goals and metrics through an app. Now, even with many gyms and fitness classes open to the public again in the Twin Cities, social exercise apps still seem to be a popular option. I definitely enjoy the convenience of looking at my Nike Training Club app for workout ideas and yoga routines that I can do at home if I don’t have the time or energy to go to the gym. It also allows me to learn new routines and techniques without having to pay for a class in person. 

However, apps like these, with their features allowing you to see and compare workout metrics with others, aren’t always the best for our mental health. Especially during a global pandemic, the last thing we need is more health anxiety. 

The best option? Keep your fitness apps if you find them useful for finding new workouts or sticking to your goals, but maybe silence notifications or turn off data sharing. Working out should be an enjoyable activity, not another source of stress and anxiety in our already-chaotic lives.