I’ve only been swimming before work for three weeks and I already have a solid routine! When I started, I looked everywhere for this information and couldn’t find anything, so I’m sharing what I wish I had. Some might think this is too much, but I know there are others out there who feel anxious like me and might find this helpful.
Here’s what I use:
large mesh TYR swim bag
in the small outer pocket I keep goggles, swim caps, and earplugs
water bottle in the water bottle holder
In the big main compartment, I keep everything else including:
towel
hair towel turban
t-shirt
pouch with flip flops
pouch with several clean underwear
pouch for hair dryer, hair brush, and leave-in conditioner
pouch with shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, face moisturizer, body lotion, deodorant, and a dry bag
Here’s my morning routine:
Put on swimsuit before leaving home. Wear baggy sweats over it (leggings or tight clothes are tough to put on when you’re damp after swimming).
Arrive at the pool and take off the sweatpants, leaving them in a locker. Swap shoes to flip flops. Grab towel, hair towel, goggles, cap, water bottle, and pouch with shampoo, etc.
Rinse off before swimming (your hair and the lifeguards will thank you). Bring your items to the pool deck and put towels, pouch, and flip flops aside. Bring goggles, cap, and water bottle to the pool.
Swim!
Get out of the pool and grab your stuff from the deck. Since you prepared, you’re not dripping everywhere in the locker room and can head straight to the shower.
Shower, rinse out your swimsuit and wring it dry. Place it in the dry bag. After showering, put your hair up in the towel turban and apply deodorant, moisturizer, and lotion in the shower area. You can wrap the towel around you as needed for modesty in the locker room and your hair won’t drip everywhere.
Put dry bag, shampoo pouch, goggles, cap, towels, and water bottle away. Grab the pouch with hair dryer, conditioner, and brush. Get a clean pair of underwear, put on sweats and the shirt that’s in your bag. Dry your hair, brush it, and apply conditioner.
Put away the hair items pouch. Swap to outdoor shoes and place flip flops in the pouch to keep everything a little cleaner—this isn’t strictly necessary but it helps. You’re ready to leave.
Make sure to hang wet items to dry whenever you can. I go straight home after swimming, so I hang up my towel, hair towel, swimsuit, and dry bag right away. If you’re headed straight to work, I recommend having two sets of swimsuits and towels and hanging them up in the evening when you get home. I’ve also seen people hang their suits off their car side mirrors while at work.
I know not everyone will relate to this, but the me from three weeks ago would have loved this info, so I’m posting it for those who let anxiety about being prepared hold them back.
I keep all my toiletries (like shampoo, deodorant, conditioner, body lotion) in a plastic pouch that I hang in the shower stall with an ‘S’ shaped hook because my gym doesn’t have a shelf in the booth.
I love this! This guide is amazing and I really appreciate you sharing it. I have a routine similar to this and it’s nice to see I’m on the right track. I’m going to add a pouch for my flip flops since I like the idea of keeping them separate from my other things. Happy swimming!
@Addison
Thank you! I’m always open to tips from people who have been swimming longer than me. I played water polo for years, so I’ve been around pools a lot, but it was always in the evening and I went straight home. Now that I’m swimming in the morning, my routine is a lot different!
@Quinlan
I agree! I swim on my lunch break at work, so I have to pack even more to look presentable (minus the goggle marks, which are apparently here to stay) and it can feel overwhelming but is necessary.
I leave as much stuff as I can at work. Deodorant, face moisturizer, snacks, shoes, belts, and half of my wardrobe are all in my office. At my last job, I had them in a locker. I can show up at work in flip flops and gym shorts, close my door, and in five minutes look professional.
This doesn’t work for everyone, but for me, it prevents me from dragging a bunch of things to multiple locations and helps keep my work-life balance.
hang their suits off their car side mirrors while at work.
I dry my suit and towel on a coat hook at work. That way I can throw them back in my car at the end of the day and be ready for swimming.
Pro tip: Those surf wetsuit change poncho towels are game changers. I wear mine on the way, it keeps me warm, and you never forget a towel (because it serves as one).
Dakota said:
Pro tip: Those surf wetsuit change poncho towels are game changers. I wear mine on the way, it keeps me warm, and you never forget a towel (because it serves as one).
Dakota said:
Pro tip: Those surf wetsuit change poncho towels are game changers. I wear mine on the way, it keeps me warm, and you never forget a towel (because it serves as one).
I’d wear them in summer, but it’s way too cold now! They did turn up the heaters in the pool, so I’m not mad about that.
Are you me? Thanks for sharing this. I feel so seen. I have to go to work right after swimming, so I have a lot to manage and I’ve always felt a bit ridiculous about it.
Adi said:
Are you me? Thanks for sharing this. I feel so seen. I have to go to work right after swimming, so I have a lot to manage and I’ve always felt a bit ridiculous about it.
Thank you! Yeah, it feels like a lot, but it’s basically my only shower (I shower at home once a week to clarify shampoo and shave), so I need to be efficient and considerate of others in the locker room. Plus, I work as an executive assistant, so efficiency is key for me!
