So many of us feel like we should be going to the gym. Maybe we want to go, maybe we have health goals—but simply getting started can be tough..
Our fitness journey, like any other, will have ups and downs. That’s normal. What’s more important is our mindset behind exercise, and the awareness of how we want to show up for ourselves.
Personally, I exercise not just for my body, but for my mind—probably 90% of the reason I move my body is for my mental health. Whether it’s yoga, Pilates, lifting weights, swimming, or even walking, movement helps regulate my nervous system, ease anxiety, and relieve stress. It’s important to give yourself an outlet—you don’t want to carry your mental strain with you all day.
Moving your body is one of the most important ways you can take care of yourself.
How you care for yourself physically often reflects how you feel about yourself mentally and emotionally. Choosing to move, to stretch, to rest, to challenge yourself—these are all forms of maintenance and self-respect. Showing up for yourself in this way, consistently, builds self-esteem and shows you that you are worthy of being prioritized.
Personal Experience with Injury
I injured my back about ten years ago. It was brutal, and I still have to be very conscious of my body even today.
One thing that’s been paramount to my healing and well-being is exercise. It keeps my mind clear and helps manage anxiety and depression. It also keeps my back from hurting as much.
For the first few years after my injury, I didn’t exercise at all. I was in my mid-20s, had just moved to California, and I occasionally couldn’t move my legs due to pain. The trauma from that experienced influenced me to focus mainly on chiropractic care and rest.
Exercise took a backseat until about five years later, when I decided I was feeling better and wanted to get back into shape.
You may be able to relate, and the big question was – how do I get started? Going from very little physical activity, to exercising regularly is a big step that can be super difficult at times. Something as simple as going for a walk can become a huge task if you’re not used to it. Mentally, driving even ten minutes to the gym to train for 20 minutes can seem like such a big deal if you haven’t been to the gym in years.
Getting Started: Difficult, but Not Impossible
There are so many things that can stand in our way when it comes to starting exercise. However, if you take notice, many of these reasons—or excuses—come down to one thing: a decision. If you allow your excuses to get the better of you, you’re deciding that these things carry more weight than your goal.
Exercise is work. It’s hard work, you’re literally working and sweating and it’s not easy. The results that you’re looking for are likely not immediate, when it comes to building muscle and losing weight, that takes weeks, even months. Barring any medical conditions, you might even need to work at it longer than expected before you notice the results you’re looking for. That’s all okay!
Ultimately, exercise is about the process – it’s about showing up for yourself.
An exercise routine – whether it’s intense or relaxing, is more about increasing your relationship with yourself. You get to spend time with yourself in a setting that tests your dedication, mental and emotional strength, and endurance. This is an opportunity for you to show yourself that you can do it, because you can.
When you show up for yourself, that’s always a win.
Just Show Up
What I want to stress here is the simplest step in getting into a workout routine. Maybe your goal is to get a six pack, maybe you just want to include walking more into your lifestyle. In either case, don’t put too much pressure on the results – there’s a key principle that comes way before the results.
The most important thing for you to do is show up. In the beginning of our exercise journey – our main goal is to simply show up. This is also a really great time to ‘trust the process’. Especially in the beginning, when focusing on your form is important to avoid injury.
When I first got back into exercise I did it by using baby steps. I added ten extra minutes to my morning routine, and stretched.
How to Think About Your Workout Routine
Below are a few things I’ve learned along the way that helped shift my mindset:
- Do it early. Mornings work best for a lot of people because it sets the tone for the day. It gets done before the distractions kick in. For many folks, if they don’t exercise first thing in the morning, they simply won’t do it. Be honest with yourself about what works best for you and your schedule.
- Start small. Set small goals for yourself in the beginning, something that won’t intimidate you or overwhelm you when you think about it. As previously mentioned, maybe start out with just ten minutes each day – do something small like stretching or going for a walk.
Perhaps you want to just do twelve push-ups and then be done. Great, do that! The goal here is to get used to moving and become more open to this lifestyle. Mentally, emotionally, and physically – set small, realistic goals, and then build as you grow. - Just show up. Especially on days when you don’t want to, and the excuses are creeping in – just go to the gym. Just go there, attempt to walk on the treadmill for five minutes and if you find that you still don’t want to be there – then go. If your goal is to go for a walk around the block, put your shoes on – just walk to the corner, if you don’t want to go all the way around, turn around and go back home.
If you want to do some yoga or floor work, get out your mat and just do a few minutes worth of stretching or poses. I’m sure you can see where I’m going with all of this.
Of course we want to listen to our bodies, if you genuinely are tired or unable to move – then certainly don’t. However, when we are talking about a lack of motivation – just showing up can make all the difference.
When you show up for yourself like you said you would, you’re building self-trust. - Don’t judge yourself. Missing a day (or a week) doesn’t mean you failed. You’re human. Life happens. Keep your reason in mind, and keep going. Just because you haven’t gone to the gym in days, weeks, months – doesn’t mean you can’t go now.
- Go back. Always go back. I’ve had seasons where I go five days a week. I’ve also had seasons where I blink and two weeks go by. It happens to all of us. But exercise, like anything meaningful, is a relationship. And relationships ebb and flow.
Think of Exercise Like a Relationship
When that happens, just understand—be compassionate with yourself. You have a life. Maybe you have kids, a job, goals and ambitions. You also have a social life. Listen—it’s okay.
You need to think about your exercise life like any other part of your life. Your intellectual, social, and spiritual life—these are all ongoing.
You wouldn’t go out with a friend once and then completely stop being friends just because you couldn’t see them the next day. When you’re close with someone, sometimes you hang out all the time, sometimes you go months without seeing each other—and you’re still friends.
Have you ever reconnected with someone and just picked things up again? It’s the same with exercise.
This is something that applies to your whole life, now and moving forward. It’s not just a one-time opportunity that disappears the minute your plan doesn’t go perfectly.
Just try again tomorrow.
Final Thoughts
Your relationship with your body doesn’t have to be perfect. Taking care of yourself through exercise can feel intimidating at times, but it’s something you can learn to approach with grace and understanding.
Don’t be hard on yourself for missing a day—or even a few. Exercise isn’t just about physical results; it’s also about tending to your mental and emotional health. Show up for yourself. Earn your own respect. Build trust with yourself by following through on your intentions.
Just get started—and keep going. The long-term goal of a healthier body, mind, and spirit is worth more than whatever obstacle is in your way right now.
How do you approach your exercise journey? Why do you move your body? Let me know in the comments below!
Related Reads:
Qualities of a Great Leader — Professionally, Personally, and on Our Healing Journey,
Take a Breath: How to be Less Reactive,
Your Most Important Relationship: The One You Have With Yourself
Resources If you’d like to learn more about how to get started with an exercise routine, check out this link:
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