Usually, when people think of going to the gym, they sigh or roll their eyes. However, there are a ton of things that make all the hard work truly pay off. What once was just training for sports and now has become a vital part of my daily life. Weightlifting has delivered so many benefits in my life. I was not always the most confident kid growing up — I was a very awkward kid. I had hardly any self-confidence in myself and would be timid to get out of my comfort zone.

Exercise was a huge key for me as it helped me get the body I want and the mindset. Weightlifting has for sure benefitted my mental health and has been proven by scientists to help deal with anxiety and depression, according to a recent article by psychology today. Having an active lifestyle has helped me best when I needed to take care of myself.

I have been through hard times in my life just like any ordinary person. However, I would always use the gym as my escape from reality to just focus on myself. No outside distractions or problems to deal with when you're there. Also, being able to wake up every day and look at the mirror confidently is such a great way to start your day. It makes you feel like you can accomplish anything that day. As for my mental health, I have never been in a better mood from implementing exercise into my day.

The greatest part about this sport is that there is always room for improvement and it feels like a never-ending process. There is never a moment where I feel unsatisfied or complacent as I always have something to improve on. The mindset of always setting goals for yourself and consistency has helped not only in the gym but in my academic career as well.

I try to take that gym mindset with me wherever I go and try to work as hard as I can to make myself better each and every day. I never truly thought that working out five days a week for one hour can have such a positive impact on how I perceive my life. If you are ever thinking of new hobbies to try out or having problems with your mental health I highly recommend that you exercise.