Sure, the title might suggest this post is a quick fix. It is not. This post is all about how my daily tiny visits to the gym helped my mental health to a point where I could finally start believing I was worth something again. You see, if you're a mom, and pretty much a stay-at-home-mom who does not have the mental capacity to be a stay-at-home-mom, you are in trouble. Or at least your self-esteem is in trouble. You feel like you don't have the energy all the other moms have, you don't really bring in any money and you're not awesome at taking care of your kids or cook. Well, at least that's what you think, and that's what you tell yourself - daily. Somewhere deep inside you know that people who carry your bagage normally have committed suicide or have big problems with relationships, job, etc. You are lucky to be where you are.
So, you made a deal with yourself. Okay, honesly, this is all about me. I made a deal with myself. Since I feel awful when it comes to my mental health and constantly beating myself up, IS there something I can do for myself? Yes. After several months without any gym visits due to corona my mental health was steadily spiraling downwards. We are 'only' recommended to not use the gym at this time. I have been biding by this for months, and to a great cost, my mental health. So I decided to try something new.
My plan:
1. Go to the gym every day after leaving kids at school. This is the time during the day which is considered 'green' by the gym. Green equals few people.
2. Be okay with the decisions and don't dwell on you being worthless because you made the choice. Easier said than done since it goes against what I believe in. I want to follow all the recommendations. This time, however, my mental health has to come first. And I am, without a doubt, extremely careful at the gym.
3. Do a minimum of one strength exercise and five minutes on any cardio machine, then you're free to leave, if you want to. You are here to show up for yourself, not show off. If my body isn't up for it, I go home. I don't force it. I show up, that's the point.
Those three steps are what I have created as my guide. Nothing more, nothing less. This is where minimal effort, maximum results come in. I feel so freaking awesome for showing up for myself daily! I have never done anythings like this. I have noticed a huge shift in the way I talk to myself, how productive I am and how much more likely I am to eat more healthy, prepare food before the kids come home. I have noticed my patience slowly building. The benefits just keep piling up, just by doing this one single thing. I go to the gym six times each week. Saturday is my day off.
Does this seem extreme? I am a person who normally would've gone to the gym once or twice each week. I found it hard to motivate myself, to push the extra mile. This way I don't have to plan, I don't have to work around a certain schedule. I know I will go to the gym every day except Saturdays, and I do. Motivation or not, I have a plan, I stick to my plan. 10 minutes each day is something even I can do. Instead of walking home when I have left kids at school, I go to the gym which is aaalmost on the way home. I do a few exercises, show up, and then go home.
It was so much easier for me to start showing up to the gym a little every day instead of massive efforts two times each week. My body feels stronger, calmer, more at ease since I started doing this. I will definitely keep doing this. No more go hard or go home. This is all about building myself from the ground up. This is a piece of the puzzle I didn't know was missing. I am truly happy I decided on this. Thank you me for doing this for me.
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