How Do I Exercise For Self Care?
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The beautiful thing about using exercise for self care is that there’s no wrong way to do it.
Self care means making choices that improve your wellbeing. So, to break it down simply, exercise for self care means choosing types of movement that bring you joy, help you feel connected to others, and bring you a sense of accomplishment.
That’s going to look different for everybody!!
Too often, we’re taught that exercise needs to be a form of self-punishment. Let’s change this narrative!
Take a moment and make a mental checklist:
What’s something that brings me joy? How can I incorporate movement into this?
For me, I need at least a weekly nature walk to re-charge.
When and where do I connect with others? Can movement be part of this?
Sometimes, I invite a friend on my nature walk.
How can exercise bring me a sense of accomplishment?
This doesn’t have to mean being super competitive and intense. Often, simply showing up for a short movement session can bring a sense of accomplishment. For some, this means making progress with increasing your strength and abilities.
Whatever you do, be kind to yourself. Un-learning notions around exercise, such as “No pain, no gain” can take time and a lot of hard work. Just remember, you’re never alone.
Stay curious.
