The gym is like an unsupervised adult playground. It’s easy to walk in and toss a few weights around. But if you don’t follow the right routine or skip necessary steps, you may buy yourself a one-way ticket to injury town.

Before you strap on your kicks for your next gym session, check out the five most common weight-lifting mistakes below. Also, learn the best ways to avoid them so you can build a healthier, more resilient body for years to come.

It’s better to learn proper lifting techniques than to train haphazardly. Take your time to warm up. Choose a weight that suits your workouts and your goals. Do exercises that help you prepare for everyday life, and mix up your routine. Avoid these five common mistakes and you’ll be on your way to building your strongest body yet.