I have anxiety. I go to therapy to cope with my anxiety. While I'm not medicated for it, anxiety runs in my family and affects my day-to-day actions. I've had entire semesters when I was barely able to function, because my anxiety was so high.

Recently, I started making it a priority to go to the gym. I'd go to the fitness classes offered, or go with my roommate when she went — following along with whatever workout plan she made. I don't go to get in shape. I don't go to lose five pounds. I don't go to look hot naked. I go because I found that it helped me cope with my anxiety.

I went into this semester with every intent to take care of myself, and while going to the gym was on my list of self-care tasks, I knew I couldn't go into the gym with too high of expectations for myself. I've never been athletic or even in shape, even though I've always wanted to be. Had I gone in with the hopes of producing the perfect beach-bod, I'd let myself down and feel bad — that wasn't a part of my self-care plan.

By making it a priority to go to the gym at least three times a week, I found that events and problems which would normally raise my anxiety to an eight or nine would only raise it to a six. I found that I could think with a clearer head, and not freak out about the small things. I was calmer and more focused when I made exercise a priority. Even my therapist noticed a difference in our sessions when I started going to the gym.

Getting out of bed in the morning to put on some leggings and face the cold walk to the fitness center is probably the worst part of the entire process. There are so many mornings where I think that if I hit snooze I'd feel better, but I know that the hour I spend burning some calories will make me feel better. In fact, if I go in the morning, then I start each day knowing I've done something productive — and that in itself feels great.

Exercise is a great thing. Yes, it can put you in shape. Yes, it can make you feel more confident. And yes, sometimes exercise is the source of some people's anxiety (it was mine for the longest time). But for me, exercise has become something that I enjoy doing because I know that it's going to help me. Maybe one day I'll draft a plan for a better butt, or train for a half marathon. But today, I go to the gym so that tomorrow, I can be a calmer person.