I always hated exercise growing up. I hated PE. I was bad at everything, partly because I had terrible eyesight. But partly because I never really tried to do any physical activity long enough to actually get good at it. And unlike, say, playing the piano, my parents never made me practice. But now I love to lift. And I love to run. And dammit, I am really good at it. I didn’t have this realization until I turned 50, at which point I’d long stopped giving a shit about what other people thought of me -- a major obstacle to enjoying PE class but also going to the gym throughout my 20s and 30s. Now it’s not other people who make me feel bad about my body and not exercising; it’s my body that makes me feel bad -- literally -- when I don’t move. Sarcopenia is real, and losing muscle and strength hurts much worse than working to gain it.
yes!! totally. such a good point about how what other people think being an impediment in our earliest interactions with exercise/the gym. and same, at this point when I don't workout for a couple days my body ACHES
Yes to all of this! This is basically my approach to exercise now and it works much better than the "find a form of exercise you love and you'll always be motivated to do it" advice. Which is not bad advice per se, but for a long time I had this idea that every workout had to be euphoric, and the reality just doesn't live up. Now I see exercise, especially strength training, as basic physical hygiene: not super exciting but not terrible either, just something I do to take care of myself. With good music it's not bad at all 😂 I actually exercise much more regularly now, in a way that feels sustainable in the sense that I can probably keep this up for the next few decades, which is kind of the whole point.
I haven't read Dopamine Nation but it sounds interesting! I think a lot about finding that balance between pushing through hard stuff and also being gentle with myself and finding joy in life. I feel like you need both but in the moment it's not always easy to tell which one is called for. Good stuff to think about. Thanks for another thoughtful post!
Thanks Kelsey! I'm totally with you. I've almost written something like "Sometimes exercise just feels like brushing your teeth" about a hundred times lol
Also! Big yes to Daria. I'm rediscovering Hidden Brain. I'm meh with numbers but want to get better professionally and personally. I think the best Mad Men episode is The Wheel, but I haven't rewatched the whole series like I thought I would. I use Mint badly. Running. Y, given the right source material and environment. I have a thread with friends about silly fun party ideas, and honestly I think a Decemberists/Neutral Milk Hotel/etc full album singalong is a fun idea???
Yes to all of this! This is basically my approach to exercise now and it works much better than the "find a form of exercise you love and you'll always be motivated to do it" advice. Which is not bad advice per se, but for a long time I had this idea that every workout had to be euphoric, and the reality just doesn't live up. Now I see exercise, especially strength training, as basic physical hygiene: not super exciting decades, which is kind of the whole point.
I haven't read Dopamine Nation but it sounds interesting! I think a lot about finding that balance between pushing through hard stuff and also being gentle with myself and finding joy in life. I feel like you need both but in the moment it's not always easy to tell which one is called for. Good stuff to think about. Thanks for another thoughtful post!
Holy shirtballs THANK YOU for quoting “The Mariners Revenge Song” it’s such a weird cathartic deep dive Decemberists song! Holds a chunk of my heart - had a big phase in college.
Also man I started lifting weights in the past few months and I....love it. Totally unexpectedly. Cardio is overall boring and HIIT is too much jumping for my knees and I don’t always have the patience for yoga but lifting heavy things really makes me feel like I’m overcoming something.
Thanks for the financial encouragement too. I need to reframe myself as a trier there for sure. If I’ve turned into a weightlifter why not a financial savvy human?? LFG
3. I am getting better at my personal finances each and every day (see what I did there?) In all seriousness, I was terrible for so many years but I am getting better, and more aware of how I manage my money. I’m trying to produce more (writing on Substack and painting) and consume less (spending on food mostly) and I used to be a bit of a course junkie, now I’m making use of all the great free info in the world.
I always hated exercise growing up. I hated PE. I was bad at everything, partly because I had terrible eyesight. But partly because I never really tried to do any physical activity long enough to actually get good at it. And unlike, say, playing the piano, my parents never made me practice. But now I love to lift. And I love to run. And dammit, I am really good at it. I didn’t have this realization until I turned 50, at which point I’d long stopped giving a shit about what other people thought of me -- a major obstacle to enjoying PE class but also going to the gym throughout my 20s and 30s. Now it’s not other people who make me feel bad about my body and not exercising; it’s my body that makes me feel bad -- literally -- when I don’t move. Sarcopenia is real, and losing muscle and strength hurts much worse than working to gain it.
yes!! totally. such a good point about how what other people think being an impediment in our earliest interactions with exercise/the gym. and same, at this point when I don't workout for a couple days my body ACHES
Yes to all of this! This is basically my approach to exercise now and it works much better than the "find a form of exercise you love and you'll always be motivated to do it" advice. Which is not bad advice per se, but for a long time I had this idea that every workout had to be euphoric, and the reality just doesn't live up. Now I see exercise, especially strength training, as basic physical hygiene: not super exciting but not terrible either, just something I do to take care of myself. With good music it's not bad at all 😂 I actually exercise much more regularly now, in a way that feels sustainable in the sense that I can probably keep this up for the next few decades, which is kind of the whole point.
I haven't read Dopamine Nation but it sounds interesting! I think a lot about finding that balance between pushing through hard stuff and also being gentle with myself and finding joy in life. I feel like you need both but in the moment it's not always easy to tell which one is called for. Good stuff to think about. Thanks for another thoughtful post!
Thanks Kelsey! I'm totally with you. I've almost written something like "Sometimes exercise just feels like brushing your teeth" about a hundred times lol
I have the Daria DVD box set :)
omg watch party
Thanks for this!
Also! Big yes to Daria. I'm rediscovering Hidden Brain. I'm meh with numbers but want to get better professionally and personally. I think the best Mad Men episode is The Wheel, but I haven't rewatched the whole series like I thought I would. I use Mint badly. Running. Y, given the right source material and environment. I have a thread with friends about silly fun party ideas, and honestly I think a Decemberists/Neutral Milk Hotel/etc full album singalong is a fun idea???
Yes to all of this! This is basically my approach to exercise now and it works much better than the "find a form of exercise you love and you'll always be motivated to do it" advice. Which is not bad advice per se, but for a long time I had this idea that every workout had to be euphoric, and the reality just doesn't live up. Now I see exercise, especially strength training, as basic physical hygiene: not super exciting decades, which is kind of the whole point.
I haven't read Dopamine Nation but it sounds interesting! I think a lot about finding that balance between pushing through hard stuff and also being gentle with myself and finding joy in life. I feel like you need both but in the moment it's not always easy to tell which one is called for. Good stuff to think about. Thanks for another thoughtful post!
Holy shirtballs THANK YOU for quoting “The Mariners Revenge Song” it’s such a weird cathartic deep dive Decemberists song! Holds a chunk of my heart - had a big phase in college.
Also man I started lifting weights in the past few months and I....love it. Totally unexpectedly. Cardio is overall boring and HIIT is too much jumping for my knees and I don’t always have the patience for yoga but lifting heavy things really makes me feel like I’m overcoming something.
Thanks for the financial encouragement too. I need to reframe myself as a trier there for sure. If I’ve turned into a weightlifter why not a financial savvy human?? LFG
Another Decemberists fan!!! Hello!! So happy for you that you're loving the weights, Elise. Thanks for reading. LFG!!!!!
3. I am getting better at my personal finances each and every day (see what I did there?) In all seriousness, I was terrible for so many years but I am getting better, and more aware of how I manage my money. I’m trying to produce more (writing on Substack and painting) and consume less (spending on food mostly) and I used to be a bit of a course junkie, now I’m making use of all the great free info in the world.