Many gym attendees use the amount of time they spend in the gym to gauge the effectiveness of their workout. There is a lot of research and a lot of bro-science around this topic, but we like to stick to anecdotal evidence and keep things simple. Train for as long as you desire.

If you are exercising with a partner or if you take extensive rest intervals between sets, there are a few elements that will determine how long you should spend in the gym. If you exercise with a friend, you may spend 2 hours at the gym, with 3-5 minute rest intervals in between sets. However, if you are training alone and with a high degree of focus, you will be successful.

We recommend not overthinking it: train until you’re exhausted and spent, but don’t use that as an excuse to skip sessions. Your ability to finish your intended rep range and how well you can lift a specific weight that you know your prior PB for are both good indicators of your effort.

It’s critical to strike the perfect balance, to push oneself while also knowing when to draw the pin. Train for as long as you need to, but make sure you finish the task.