There’s nothing I love more than romanticizing my day-to-day. Lately, my morning routine has been so calming: a massage, an everything shower, and then some facial multitasking with gua sha, red light therapy, and reading a good book. Once I’m ready for the day, I focus on a protein-filled breakfast (usually eggs with spinach and my favorite honey-cinnamon sweet potatoes I make in the air fryer; so delicious!). Even with my gentle routine, I honestly felt like I was stuck in a bit of a fog. I just didn’t have the energy I actually needed to start my day. I felt like I needed a bit more movement to wake myself up, and I luckily have the gym just an elevator ride away.
Even with my weekly Pilates and yoga, I knew I needed to work on my stamina, so I set a goal to visit an actual gym more often. I have three gyms in my building (which is such a blessing!), but if I’m being honest, I just didn’t feel drawn to them. Compared to my pink Pilates weekends and gentle yoga classes, the clunky machines and that sweaty gym air felt anything but aesthetic. At first, I didn’t see an intense workout as self-care. However, I’ve come to realize that challenging my body is actually one of the most powerful ways I can romanticize my health. I had to stop seeing the gym as a chore and start seeing it as an appointment with myself that I’m not allowed to cancel. My morning routine requires planning and consistency, and I realized the gym is no different; it’s just another form of discipline. Now, it’s actually the part of the day I look forward to most. I leave with a sudden burst of energy that makes everything feel more vivid and helps me stay present.
I was curious why I felt such a massive shift in both my energy and productivity, and the research is inspiring. Exercise is essentially a power-up for your brain. A single workout immediately spikes your neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline) which is why my mood shifts the second I finish. Beyond the runner’s high, that one session actually improves your ability to focus and increases your reaction times for up to two hours. It’s a natural brain fog remover, which has been really life changing as someone with an autoimmune disorder.
While exercise is self-care, it’s also an investment. The brain is like a muscle: the more you work it, the stronger the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex become. By getting my heart rate up for at least 30 minutes a day, I’m actually growing new brain cells. This doesn’t just improve long term memory and attention; it actually builds a shield against aging and cognitive decline later in life. Even a modest amount of walking is transformative. Walking releases pain-relieving endorphins and curves the stress hormone cortisol, easing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Your body literally adapts to the movement; your heart becomes more efficient at pumping blood, and the weight-bearing nature of walking actually signals your bones to absorb calcium, retaining density as you age. To reiterate, walking in itself is a shield against everything from Type 2 diabetes to dementia.
Most importantly, I’ve learned that exercise is the highest form of self-care because it’s about acknowledging that I am worthy of my own effort. We often put work, school, and everyone else first, leaving ourselves for last. However, you deserve to be at the top of your own priority list. Real self-care isn’t just skin care and hair care routines; it’s building a body and a mind that can handle the ups and downs of life with strength. We are all deserving of the clarity, the energy, and the health that movement provides. Thirty minutes is only 2% of your day, which I think is a tiny investment for a lifetime of mental clarity. So, whether it’s a heavy gym session or a brisk walk outside, I challenge you to give yourself that 2% today. You aren’t just working out; you’re proving to yourself that you are worth the work.