When I first started college, I thought that it was going to be great to have a free gym within walking distance that I could use whenever I needed to. Maybe, I had thought, I would finally be able to get in shape and get to look and feel healthier and stronger like I had always wanted to (but never really had any actual desire to do).
But, then, classes and clubs and, well, life, got in the way, and I was lucky if I went maybe once or twice a month.
Fast forward five years later, and I find myself sitting at home during a worldwide pandemic, eyes glazed over from having watched my seventh straight hour of Netflix. I realized that I will never have this much free time again in my life, so I might as well use it to try something new.
I began by lifting weights a few times a week in my garage, and then, once the gyms reopened, I took the schedule that I had already made and modified it to incorporate all of the new machines and exercises I now had available. Although I still have a lot to learn, one thing I can say for sure is that I have learned to like exercising more than I had ever thought was possible.
1. It gives you a sense of accomplishment.
Since most of my time during the pandemic had been spent watching TV and applying to jobs, after a while, I started to feel like I was just wasting away. Days began to blur together, and every day felt almost exactly the same as the previous one. This began to take a heavy toll on my mental health and sanity. I felt like I needed a purpose again, some kind of daily goal to motivate me to get out of bed every day.
When I began exercising, I realized that I felt amazing after every workout because I had actually accomplished something. Whether I had done just a 30-minute weight circuit, or ran on the elliptical for an hour, when I had finished I felt confident in knowing that I had just done something good for my body and my mind. This gave me a much-needed sense of empowerment as I had gotten myself to do something that I had once absolutely hated.
2. Exercising gave me a place to escape the stress of everyday life.
Whether it was working out in my garage, or actually going to the gym, having a regular exercise schedule gave me a place to be that wasn't the four walls of my house. It gave me a chance to take a break from worrying about COVID and my grandfather. It gave me a distraction from constantly checking my emails for job interviews.
Having a place to go and spend time at is vital for my mental well-being during this quarantine. It gives me a chance to have a change of scenery, be around other people (socially-distanced, of course) and take care of myself. Me and only me. It gives me something to look forward to.
3. Exercising makes me appreciate my health and my body.
Photo by Jonathan Borba on UnsplashEvery day, I watch my grandfather shuffle around the house, bent over slightly because of his arthritis in his knee. I turn on the news and watch the number of COVID cases rise as more and more people suffer. And then I think of how lucky I am to have two legs that are strong enough to support me, that allow me to walk and run. I have two arms that can lift and hold things, a set of lungs that allow me to breathe deeply and clearly.
I am so lucky to be healthy, to be able to do the simple, everyday tasks that so many others take for granted - so why should I waste this perfectly good body and just let it sit around in a bed or on a couch all day? I have muscles that need to be stretched and a heart that wants to pump faster and for once, all the time in the world to do it. I'm going to do what I can to give back to a body that has given so much to me.
4. Exercising has helped me discover healthier foods.
Although I love food as much as the next person, after a workout, I usually feel like eating something healthier. I've been trying out all different kinds of protein smoothies or rice cakes with various toppings. I'm more conscious than I normally would be about what I put into my body after a workout because I want to make sure I allow my muscles to recover properly. I can't say that I don't still get hungry later in the day, but it's a process, and it has been interesting to see what does and doesn't work for me.
5. Going to the gym has given me an excuse to buy more clothes.
Turns out the cliche phrase, "when you look good, you feel good," couldn't be more true! After going to the gym for a while, I started noticing all of the cute outfits people were wearing and got tired of my old, baggy t-shirts and soffe shorts. I bought myself a few new pairs of athletic leggings (with pockets) and tank tops, and I realized that I had even more motivation to go to the gym when I felt good about what I was wearing. Plus, getting a compliment on my leggings from one of the gym workers definitely brightens my day.
man running in forestPhoto by 
