I think by now, we’ve all heard how great exercise is for total mind and body connection.

Today, I wanted to talk about using exercise as a form of self-care. 

You may picture exercise as a form of torture, rather than self-care. I totally get it. I’ve been there too, trust me. 

But hear me out. We know exercise releases endorphins that boost our moods. Sounds like a perfect form of self-care to me! We just have to figure out a specific form of exercise that we love.

Once you get started and make it a routine, you’ll easily be able to feel a difference in your mental state right away. You should feel happier, lighter, and have more energy.

Regardless of what you choose to do, make sure you try different things to find the ones you truly enjoy – that’s the key to making exercise a form of self-care.

Let’s talk about some different ideas to try!

Outdoor Activities 

As my OG readers and friends know, I’m a nature-enthusiast. I love nature, and just being in the sun for a minute helps me immensely. If you’re like me in that way, then you may find doing outdoor exercises to be the best fit for you. 

Do you enjoy walking and slower-paced cardio exercises? Try exploring around your neighborhood on foot or go to a local trail nearby – this is a great place to start your self-care and exercise journey.

Being outside is already a form of self-care, so this is like a two-for-one activity – exercise and outdoors!

Indoor Activities

Maybe you just want to cut out the long workouts or you hate low-intensity activities because you think they’re boring or take too much time.

HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) may be the perfect fit for you. PS – You can also do this in the gym or outdoors! The majority of HIIT workouts don’t require any equipment and can be done in any open space.

Check out this blog for 5 beginner HIIT exercises.

You may also enjoy doing something more relaxing and stretch-based, like yoga. Here are some great YouTube channels for beginner yogis!

Gym Workouts

If you’re someone who enjoys solo workouts, cardio machines, or weight-lifting, or if you just want to get into the gym to start training, then do it!

There are so many gyms to choose from, so start by looking at reviews online and asking friends and family where they go.

Hitting up the gym is one of my favorite ways to work out because there are so many different things you can do – it makes it easy to switch things up and never get bored doing the same thing.

Group Fitness

Group fitness is something I’ve really been enjoying lately. It feels like you’re extra-motivated to complete your work out because a) you have an instructor encouraging and directing you, and b) you have peers surrounding you that are enduring the same work out.

There are a ton of different types of group fitness classes – cardio, dance, kick-boxing, and weight-lifting to name a few! You’re sure to find something you enjoy.

It’s nice to have a specific class at a specific time – it’s easy, there’s no thinking involved. You just go, get your work out in, and then enjoy the rest of your day!

Check out the local gyms near you to see what classes they offer or go online to look for different places that specialize in group fitness to get started.

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If you’re feeling super ambitious and want to get your self-care routine started early in the day, then you can try working out early in the morning to start your day.

As painful as it is sometimes for me to wake up an hour and a half before the sun even rises, it’s always so worth it. I feel great when it’s over, and there’s a huge sense of accomplishment and relief that you’ve already done this workout!

No matter what you take from this blog, always remember that being able to exercise is a privilege. Having the ability to do these things with and for your body is something you should never take for granted.

Love your body and take care of your mind and spirit always.

What is your favorite form of exercise? Leave me a comment below or DM me on Instagram @selflovescript.