The gym can be a point of difficulty for lots of people. Some find themselves struggling even to find the motivation to go regularly, while others might find themselves constantly needing to be there. Make sure you keep your relationship with the gym a healthy one.
Know Why You Go
Everyone has different reasons for going. Some people go because they want to become more conventionally physically attractive. Others go because they want to be in better physical condition. Some want to feel more awake and have more energy. Others want to keep their mental health in a good place.
Whatever your reason, make sure it’s something positive and uplifting that makes you feel better about yourself when you go. You should want to attend the gym regularly for yourself; going to the gym for someone else’s sake is a short-term solution that will not last.
Know When to Stop
Everyone’s bodies, minds, and schedules are vastly different. Know yourself and know what you need. Know when it’s okay to not go to the gym–and then stay home without feeling guilty. In fact, it’s usually better for building muscle and stamina if you let your body heal periodically in between sessions.
For example, lifting dumbbells every day without a break is not good for your biceps. There are other reasons you might need to take a pause. For certain people, working out might be really mentally difficult–so some days you may need to take a mental health break from the gym as well. Your patterns are between you and yourself.
Keep Diet In Mind
This might be a point that is more important for certain people than for others. Your diet inevitably is going to affect how you feel and how your body improves with exercise. People who are working out for mental health, physical health, or physique are going to want to keep their diet in mind. The important part is building a healthy relationship with your diet as well–the prevalence of eating disorders in modern society shows how truly difficult that can be. Treat diet as a tool that can help you, but not as a critical part of your self-esteem.
If you aren’t careful to build a healthy relationship with your attempts to improve yourself, you could end up with serious problems. Body dysmorphia becomes more and more common on a daily basis. Talk to your doctor or mental health professional to get more insight.
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