Going to the gym or even just starting a new workout at home can be very intimidating. My first time going to the gym was freshman year, and I was only semi-comfortable going because I went with a friend who was familiar with the gym. Working out is still a chore for me some days but I feel really guilty on the days I skip the gym so I work really hard to go every day. But the benefits from working out really do pay off, I feel happier, healthier, less-stressed and over all stronger and more confident.

Maybe you've finally decided to start your New Year's resolution or your school offers a free gym membership and you want to give it a try...but where to start?

I went into working out not entirely knowing what I was doing. But I've learned a lot along the way. No, I'm not an expert, if you want an expert then get a personal trainer, but hopefully, these tips will help you feel a little more comfortable as you start your health and fitness journey:

1. Set a fitness goal.

My first piece of advice is to make a fitness goal. Do you want to be able to run a mile effortlessly? Do you want to tone or gain muscle? Figuring out what you'd like to see as the end result will help you feel accomplished and have a goal in mind to reach. But with this in mind, it is important to remember that you are not going to reach your goal by going to the gym for one week. You need to keep up with it and slowly, but surely, you will see results.

2. Understand your body.

This is where I lacked knowledge when I started going to the gym. I started going to the gym with the intent to tone and gain muscle, had a few ideas of some workouts I wanted to do but didn't know exactly what I needed to do to get where I wanted to be. I just watched other people work out and would slowly incorporate some of those workouts into my routine until I had something that seemed like it was working.

But over the summer I took the time to learn the muscles in the body parts I was interested in working on and I created a workout that specifically targeted each those muscles. In just the short few months (and there were a few weeks I didn't go to the gym at all) that I've been following this routine, I've already seen an increase in my strength and more muscle.

3. Make a routine.

Following the same routine each time you work out is important. The consistency will motivate you to workout, instead of figuring out what routine you want to do every time you're there.

This is the workout routine that I follow:

With this workout, I am focusing on arms, legs, and chest/back. Each workout targets the muscle groups in that part of my body. Since there are only two muscles in the arm, each muscle is exercised with three workouts. For legs, chest, and back, each muscle is exercised through two workouts. I also do two sets of an abdominal workout. I also do 10-20 minutes of cardio before I start lifting. Normally I do the elliptical but a recent goal of mine is to be able to effortlessly run a mile so I have started running on the treadmill for 10 minutes before every workout.

I do each row for three complete workouts before I move to higher reps/sets. It is important to remember to start at weights and sets that you are comfortable with. When I started lifting I was only using the 10 lbs dumbbells.

4. Have fun.

Especially in the beginning, going to the gym may seem like a chore. But it's important to make working out fun, you shouldn't dread what you're doing! An easy way to make the gym more enjoyable is to make a fun playlist of your favorite pump up songs (or if you're lazy like me then you just search one on Spotify).

Another way to keep yourself on track and enjoy the gym is by having a gym buddy. Find someone who will do the same or similar workouts as you and you can work your way through the gym together. It makes the time go faster and it's a great way to hang out.

One of my personal favorite reasons to go to the gym is the excuse to buy cute and fun workout clothing. You finally have an excuse to buy those cute sneakers you've been eyeing up, or maybe you wanted a reason to buy yourself a new water bottle or a nice pair of headphones. As long as you actually use these items at the gym, you will feel validation for buying them!

It's also important to remember to ask for help. The worst thing you can do for your body is using a machine incorrectly and end up hurting yourself. The people who work at the gym are there to help you if you have any questions.

And finally, be confident in yourself! I know the gym can be very intimidating but I promise you that not everyone is staring at you even if it feels like they are. After your first few times at the gym you will start to feel more comfortable and confident, and that is one of the most important parts. All it takes is the willingness to go for the first time!