Workout week complete!

I am writing today, at the end of week three on my journey to happiness! I have had a busy week of school but managed to fit in four days of some form of physical exercise this week, and though my body is currently feeling the aftermath of a tough workout this morning, my mental and emotional states are certainly reaping the benefits! I started the week off by attending a workout class called “Orange Theory Fitness”, which I started last year but have been going off and on this semester, much more “off” than on in recent weeks. I decided Monday would be the perfect time to start getting back into it, and I signed up for an Orange Theory class at 9:30 Monday morning. As I mentioned in my previous post, I tend to dread my workouts and either find myself in a bad mood leading up to the workout or end up bailing altogether, so I booked my workout class early so that I wouldn’t have time to talk myself out of it all day. Though it was hard to get out of bed early before class, I managed to make it to the workout class and even saw three of my sorority sisters signed up for the same one! We caught up and then got to work, and I left with shaky legs but a feeling of accomplishment. Tuesday happened to be the first game in an Intramural Volleyball league I joined, which landed in perfect timing for this week’s project. Though we lost the game, it was so fun socializing with friends on my team and meeting new people that we played against. Sure, it wasn’t an intense beating of a workout, but my heart rate was most definitely up and I broke a good sweat! I forgot how much I enjoy playing sports and felt so good getting in a form of physical exercise that was actually fun! Wednesday and Thursday consisted of two more Orange Theory classes, both at 9:30 in the morning again. I saw more people I knew in both classes, and as the week comes to a close my body is feeling very sore but I am absolutely noticing a significant increase in my overall happiness throughout the week. I definitely think that the way our bodies release endorphins when doing some sort of physical exercise and in turn boost our mood is a huge bonus for carving out time each day to workout in some way. I don’t give these mood-boosting endorphins enough credit, but after staying consistent in my workouts this week I am seeing the way my body and mind have benefited. Surprisingly, working out actually gives my body more energy throughout the day, and I just feel overall better about myself after accomplishing a workout. It is also worthy to note the social factor that working out can offer, especially when it involves playing sports or attending local workout classes. Seeing friends I wouldn’t normally cross paths with this week and feeling encouraged by them after a hard workout really added to my experience. I plan to keep up this workout habit as well as I can moving forward, even if it just means going for a light jog or walk with a friend to start out my day. Having a positive mindset about exercise and seeing it as a valuable way to take care of my mind and body, especially in college when stress abounds, is such a beneficial value and I encourage everyone, including myself, to make it a priority!