5. March 2026

Why You're Skipping Classes

Dr. Lottie Miles

We’ve all been there: sat on the sofa, staring at your trainers, feeling a wave of reluctance to go to the gym. 

It’s not that you’re "lazy"—it’s a mindset balancing act.

It's easy to look at a challenging activity like a gym class and see the uncertainties (heavy weights, new people, low energy etc). You might feel a little intimidated by the physical effort required, the potential of pain, stiffness and exertion. Maybe you're concerned about the threat of embarrassment if you struggle.

These uncertainties all build up in your mind to make a session seem a whole lot harder than it should. But a few tweaks to your mindset can make the gym feel a lot more appealing...

The Effort Equation

Your brain is constantly weighing the 'Demands' against your ability to 'Cope'.

Demands: what you actually have to do.

Coping Resources: what you believe you can do

• If Ability to Cope > Demands: You feel "golden" and ready to crush it.
• If Demands > Ability to Cope: You experience stress, doubt, and the urge to skip the session.

You have more influence over both of these factors than you might think...
You Have Two Options:
1. Make the workout seem less challenging
2. Improve your beliefs about your ability to cope
So, next time you are on your sofa feeling the urge to miss your workout, break down what your mindset.  What will the workout actually be like - will your friends be there to support you and will the coach scale the movements you find challenging?
Then think about how far you've come already - how capable you are and all the things you've learnt from your past sessions.  You are tougher than you think and you will absolutely crush this workout, no matter what your coach decides to throw at you!