A gym floor offers enough choices to make an unplanned session feel busy without becoming coherent. Create a short decision menu before you arrive. It should identify the purpose of the day and a few familiar options for each intended movement. This gives you flexibility when equipment changes while preserving a reason behind the choices you make.
Build the menu from exercises you already know how to perform. Include the equipment needed and any setup note that matters. Avoid treating every option as something you must complete. The menu is a way to select a workable route, not an invitation to double the session whenever several stations happen to be free at once.
Choose the version you will use and record it accurately. If you substitute a machine for a free-weight movement, keep separate entries in the log. Different equipment should not be compared only by the number printed on it. Familiarity and consistent technique make the session easier to judge than a collection of unrelated personal bests.
Review the menu after a few weeks in the actual gym environment. Remove options you never use and add alternatives only when they solve a recurring problem. A compact system should reduce decisions, not create another planning project. With the basics settled, you can spend more attention on the work itself and less on searching the room for inspiration.