'health is wealth'

In my first year at uni  (and even sometimes now if i'm being completely honest) my ‘catch phrase’ was

“i'm so tired, but I haven’t even done that much”

I was constantly being given reasons and advice surrounding what felt like was ‘always being drained’. I have not ‘found the cure’ for fatigue, as there are so many factors at play. Mental health, finding stability and routine in a completely new environment, making friends, joining societies, uni work, and just generally doing the things your parents have done for you all your life, all played a part in the overall energy dip I experienced.

This year I still experience this feeling, but a lot less. So much  has changed and I feel a lot more settled, however one of the key aspects of my life that I have changed, and that was admittingly always being given as advice (and ignored) is regular exercise.

The main reasons I didn’t start exercising straight away where that I was intimidated by the overall gym vibe, and that I didn’t have the time. In the summer I was naturally less busy, and so with some hesitation started going to the gym. I decided that something that would really boost my confidence, would be having a one-off session with a PT, so I could learn to use the equipment that I was ‘scared of getting wrong’. This was a massive help, and I began to feel more comfortable in the gym environment.

There definitely was (and still is) times where I felt like I really didn’t want to go, but after a certain point I could see the benefits, the endorphins and overall improvement fitness was having on my life, so this became an overriding motivation.

Although the gym is time consuming, I have found that it has boosted my energy and mood in such a way that I am actually more productive than I would have been before, feeling drained and down.

I never thought I would be someone who said that exercise has changed my life, and was always a bit annoyed by ‘those people’. I wouldn’t go as far as saying it has ‘changed my life’, but it has undoubtedly improved it.

A few of my close friends have also started prioritising regular exercise into their new year routines, and I have seen and heard how once you push past a certain point, it becomes so clear how beneficial exercise can be. There is lots of science behind it, most of which I don’t understand, however all I know it that it works.

I thought I wouldn’t have time to continue this routine at uni, but as I mentioned, the time taken in the gym is well worth the extra energy it gives you to be productive. If anything, the exercise has given me more of a structure and motivation.

Hate to be another person to say it, but regular exercise really does work!

Take it from someone with little to no gym/sport experience, it is possible to gain a real passion for exercise, especially once you push through, and start to see the effect it has on every aspect of your health and wellbeing.