Get your manners in shape before heading to gym

2. Plan for dusk and dawn. It might be more convenient to take your daily run in the early morning or late night hours, but keep in mind the limited visibility of oncoming traffic. Wear reflective clothing and use reflectors if you are exercising at night.

3. Obey traffic laws and be respectful of drivers and pedestrians. Utilize all pedestrian crossings and stop at stop signs if you are on a recreational vehicle.

4. Clean up after your pet. If your exercise routine includes a jog or walk with your dog, bring along some plastic bags for your dog's waste.

5. Walk single file. If you are walking with a group of people, when you see someone walking toward you, allow them to pass by doubling up or walking single file, rather than making them step off onto the grass to allow your entire group to stay together.

6. No littering.

If you decided to start going to the gym, that’s great.

And you won’t be alone. With New Year’s resolutions set, gyms are busier than ever this time of year.

But before you toss your towel onto a treadmill to reserve a machine or hum along to your cardio playlist, it’s wise to know the do’s and don’ts for gym etiquette — whether you’ve been working out forever, or are a first-timer.

Basic principles that make up the foundation of gym etiquette include being courteous and practicing the golden rule — both of which are posted on the DeKalb Medical website for the Wellness Center.

Other tips recommended for those using the hospital’s Wellness Center include limiting cellphones to emergencies and not working out if you are sick. (Not only are you likely to infect others, but exercising could be counterproductive to getting well.)

“The idea of the gym has evolved over time. It is more than just a place where people come to work out. It has become a community gathering place where people share the common goal of a healthy lifestyle,” Amanda Posey, Wellness Center director at DeKalb Medical, said in an email. “Etiquette within the community is imperative — and that begins with courtesy. Courtesy is contagious, just as rudeness is.”

Meanwhile, Diane Gottsman, a national etiquette expert based in San Antonio, has assembled the following tips for gym etiquette:

1. Do dress appropriately. Wearing the appropriate workout attire means you'll feel your best and get a better workout. If your clothing is too baggy, you might be distracted by your clothes catching on equipment; if it's too revealing, that can be a distraction, too, and you might come across as a bit desperate for attention.

2. Don't drop the weights. If you're strong enough to get them over your head, you're strong enough to get them back down to the ground in a safe location so others don't trip over them. In other words, put away your "toys" after you play with them by re-racking the weights after using them.

3. Don't save a machine. If your friend is getting a drink of water, that's one thing. But putting your towel on the treadmill to "save" it for someone who may or may not show up is impolite. Share the equipment and allow other guests to work out with you. If there is a time limit on a machine, get off and move on when your time is up.

4. Do mind your own business. Giving unsolicited advice may be taken with appreciation or a grain of salt. Unless someone is in danger of hurting himself or herself, keep your instruction and step-by-step tutorials to yourself.

5. Don't stare. Overtly checking someone out is nothing short of creepy. Equally off-putting are people who check themselves out in the mirrors as they make their way through the gym and back to the locker room.

6. Don't sing. When listening to your favorite music with your earbuds securely in place, remember you are probably singing along at a louder decibel (or two) than you may think.

7. Do wipe down the machine before moving on. Preferably not with the same towel you use to wipe your face and body. Use the disinfectant the gym provides specifically for this purpose.

8. Do back up. Respect other people's personal space and take a step back while waiting for the weights or machine. If someone is stretching before a class, or has placed their mat down for yoga, move your mat over so the other person has room to move freely.

9. Don't use the pool as your shower. Soap and water are still your best option. And please, whatever you do, don't forget deodorant.

10. Don't spit in the sink. Guys … don't even think about spitting in the shower, water fountain or sink.

11. Do leave your cellphone in your gym bag (safely locked up in the locker room). Don't carry your cellphone around with you while you lift weights or put it on the side of the basketball court while you play a quick game and then complain when it turns up missing or stolen.