If you knew me in college, then you knew that exercise was a part of my everyday routine. I’d wake up around seven and go to the gym in the morning if I didn’t have class, or I’d go later in the day if I had things to do in the morning. I’d go six days of the week, although there were some weeks where I’d workout everyday. If I got bored of a certain workout, I’d switch it up, spending hours making different routines for myself. I ate healthily for the most part and didn’t drink much alcohol since an alcoholic relapse occurs when a person who has been in alcohol addiction treatment returns to alcohol after a period of abstinence.
Fast forward a little over a year later and my routine has changed drastically. While I’m still getting used to being an “adult” in so many ways, learning how to be comfortable with an ever-changing health and fitness lifestyle has been a challenge. It’s something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately and I wanted to share my thoughts on it, simply because I don’t think I’m the only young person out there trying to navigate this bizarre point in life. Exercise may only be a small part of this fluctuation, but it’s an important one.
When I think about my exercise habits in college, I look back now and wonder how “healthy” they actually were. I hated missing more than a day at the gym and if I didn’t go, I would often feel “fat” or “gross” and all could think about was the fact that I voluntarily chose to skip a workout.
Now I can look back and laugh at myself because first of all, that’s ridiculous. You don’t get fat from missing one day at the gym. But as an adult working a 9-5 job who’s also trying to maintain a social life, side hustle, and enjoy city living, I’ve come to realize that there are days where I just won’t make it to the gym. I suddenly have a lot less hours in the day and sometimes sleep, friends, or things that feed my mental health are a lot more important.
When I don’t have time to go the gym, I sneak in movement throughout my day. I’ll walk to/from work or sneak in a stroll during lunch. If I’m hanging out with friends, I’ll walk to see them instead of taking an Uber. Maybe I’ll get up 20 minutes early and do a quick set of ab exercises. In all honestly, sometimes I just really don’t want to go to the gym and I’m sure a lot of you can relate to that. But rather than not go at all, do some form of movement you enjoy. For me, that’s signing up for two exercise classes I genuinely love and walking the other days of the week. Find what works for you.
I’d be lying if I said that sometimes it stresses me out. That the thought of not doing squats for a week and losing some muscle tone didn’t give me a little anxiety. But when that happens and I think those thoughts and I still don’t want to go the gym, I don’t force myself. It’s not worth it for a mediocre workout and I’d only be contributing to those unhealthy thoughts. Instead, I go on a walk and clear my mind, and let me tell you, that can really work wonders.
Exercise should make you happy and be something you look forward to, not something you dread. If there’s anything this weird time in young adulthood has taught me, it’s how to be okay with the choices I make. I don’t stress for hours over a missed day at the gym. I don’t worry about the two little pieces of candy I ate after lunch. Not only do I not have time for those thoughts, but I’ve come to realize that there are so many more important things in life than going to the gym and eating completely healthy every single day.
Am I telling you to come home and sit in front of the TV and eat a pizza for dinner three times a week? Not at all. But I’ve learned that sometimes after a long day at work, you need a glass of wine and your best friend more than that HIIT workout. Or maybe you skip a day at the gym to spend time watching your brother’s soccer game. If that’s what fulfills your life, then it’s the right choice.
Everyone is different and maybe what makes you happy is an hour on the treadmill running sprint intervals. That’s awesome and that used to work for me too! I love exercise and it makes me incredibly satisfied, but as I’ve evolved and my life changes, I’ve realized that exercise isn’t always the solution for me. It’s going to take time and patience, but you need to find what works best for your body and your brain, and create a healthy balance between the two.
At the end of the day, don’t be too hard on yourself. Work hard and focus on what you’ve accomplished, rather than what you haven’t.