How To Do Proper Locker Room Etiquette

Locker rooms defy the conventions of how it is to be in a shared environment. That’s why we all know locker rooms are fun. It’s like a whole new different dimension of human interaction, because you can’t quite decide whether to treat them as private or public spheres of existence. Both elements are incorporated to form a completely new setting. Be it the gym or sports locker, locker rooms with a shower area, or the plain old ones with piles of individual metal chambers, some of the most interesting moments of campus life happen within the walls of this notorious breeding ground for suspicious relationships, friendship, rivalries, molds, and stinking personal secrets.

Privacy is sacred; and so, being in a room with your intimate belongings and possessions that you simply need to be close to you at all times, it’s hard to stay calm and confident as to what fate you will suffer when anybody even gets remotely close to finding out about what is hidden in that tiny metal vault of yours. To most of us, our lockers pretty much house the totality of our lives. We put designs and decorations, and arrange our stuff according to our preferences. To have all those little details about ourselves disclosed makes a locker room a nightmare. This may not always be the case, but since a diversity of people are so concentrated in this particular location, it is an undeniably risky space where everyone will eventually, if not already, develop a serious case of paranoia. Here’s how to prevent that from happening to you, and to your neighboring locker buddies.

1. Tough Lock. We all know you have something important hidden in there. Basic rule: do not leave your locker open. It’s practically an invitation to crime. To prevent such crimes from happening, invest in a nice, strong lock that will survive the harsh weather that is human will and resourcefulness. We humans are curious little devils. If you do not want us snooping around your stuff and finding your old napkins or used floss, for the benefit of all concerned, don’t leave your stuff lying around, open for public consumption.
2. Use Shower Sandals. Before going into the pool, sauna or Jacuzzi, remember to shower first. Don’t forget your shower sandals for this. It doesn’t only protect your feet from foreign elements on the floor, or unsuspectingly acquiring disease from other people who have been walking around the same spot; it is also an act of conscientiousness as it prevents you from spreading your germs, too. Following this logic, always use your own shower sandals and refrain from borrowing others’.
3. Cover yourself. This applies for both girls and boys. We don’t want to see you in your full glory, or at least not all of us. We assume that all of us gathered in here have the slightest conception of decency to put something on as soon as possible. We respect each other’s privacy, so don’t give us the wrong idea by lengthening the time in which you are seen naked. It is an awkward situation to be in when a stranger engages in a conversation while one of them does not have any form of clothing on. It is bad enough that we have to share showers, and dressing rooms. Do not make things even more unbearable for the rest of us.

In connection to this, keep in mind that all furniture in a locker room are shared furniture. Consider this when touching racks and sinks or sitting down on benches with your bare behind exposed. In conclusion, just be mindful of your actions.