I used to think exercise only ‘counted’ if it was intense, exhausting, and checked off every fitness goal on my list. Anything less felt like a waste. But over time, I realised this all-or-nothing mindset wasn’t helping me—it was holding me back. 

There’s a lot of people out there (me included) who in the past (or still now) used to hang onto this mindset, believing that a workout has to result in sweat and fatigue. It took me a long time to learn that this is in fact false, and movement should be about how good it makes you feel, not how much you want your bed after.

Picture a life free from exercise addiction and overexertion. What does that look like to you? To me, it looks like this:

• Being able to go out with my friends when I want to
• Being able to concentrate in the office, instead of being overly tired
• Being able to take rest days without the fear of guilt creeping in
• Being able to step into the gym and listen to my body, even if that means only a 20 minute workout is in order
• Being able to have fun with my workouts and try new things
• Being able to get more done in my day, instead of spending hours at the gym
• And so many more things!

Of course the gym can be a safe haven for a lot of people, but as I said in one of my recent posts, it can also be very negative. Ask yourself how you view exercise: is it a coping mechanism, or is it something that truly brings you joy? That’s the question to hold onto when you feel like you’re doing too much.

Not every workout has to be high-intensity or sweat-inducing. If your body is telling you it wants a slower day, whether that’s a rest day or a walk or pilates, listen to it! Otherwise you’ll go down this painful rabbit hole and it’s pretty hard to climb out of – trust me, I’ve been there.

Learn to listen to your body and its needs, instead of pushing yourself to the limits of injuries and becoming even unhealthy. Let exercise be your outlet, but please do it in a safe and positive way.