When I skip my jog for a few days, I can feel my mood start to dip. My husband and kids notice too; I pace around the kitchen, feeling irritable, and venting my frustrations until someone finally urges me, “Just go! We need you back to your cheerful self.”
I began my journey of taking long, brisk walks as a teenager, emerging from a challenging phase filled with anxiety and panic attacks. It was essentially a prescription from my doctor. Getting outside helped clear my mind and process my thoughts. The rush of endorphins brought me right back to a brighter state of mind. While exercise is not the only tool I use to manage anxiety (which can be relentless), it is a crucial part of my overall well-being.
For over two decades, I’ve maintained a regular exercise routine that keeps me physically and mentally fit. However, my goal has never been to achieve a skinny physique—or at least it isn’t anymore.
Before having kids, I was somewhat fixated on having a sculpted body, sometimes obsessively so. But as I’ve aged and embraced motherhood, my perspective has changed. Curvy runs in my family, and I’ve realized I’ll never be that ultra-slim figure. The few times I got close were at the expense of my health—through inadequate eating or over-exercising—not for the joy of it, but to chase an impossible body ideal.
Now, my priorities revolve around being happy, healthy, and sane. I work out to keep my sanity intact while raising my children, to relieve the stress of being their primary caregiver. I exercise so I can keep up with their energy as they dash down the street, to ensure a long life, and to be an active grandmother one day (fingers crossed!).
Not long after my second child was born and my responsibilities as a mom intensified, I began dreaming about running. Having never considered myself a runner, I was astonished to find myself effortlessly gliding through the air in these dreams. It felt freeing.
Motivated by these dreams, I bought a jogging stroller and ventured into running. Initially, I struggled to go more than a few blocks without feeling overwhelmed. I’d alternate between walking and running, but within a couple of months, I was mostly running. Once my little one grew, I started running without the stroller.
At first, I thought that transitioning from walking to running might help shed those stubborn last five pounds of baby weight that had lingered since my first child was born nearly ten years ago. That didn’t really happen (those pounds seem to be here to stay). However, just the simple act of doing something I never thought I could achieve has been rewarding and significantly helpful in managing my ongoing anxiety.
On tough days, I find solace in running, repeating the mantra “I can do this, I can do this” in my mind. It might sound cheesy (especially sharing it here), but running acts as a metaphor for life, helping me navigate through obstacles that life throws my way.
I am thankful that my family supports my need to hit the pavement a few times a week. When I return from a run, my kids eagerly notice the joy returning to my face, and they swarm me with affection.
Kids, in their quirky ways, don’t mind that I might be drenched in sweat—which reminds me: another perk of my jogging routine is that it practically forces me to shower afterward. At that moment, I have no excuses! And since my kids understand that letting Mommy exercise helps her stay calm, they tend to give me some space while I clean up.
A long, peaceful shower? That might just be the best reason of all to get moving.
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In summary, exercise has become a vital practice for my mental well-being rather than a pathway to achieving a certain body type. It helps me manage anxiety, connect with my kids, and enjoy the joys of motherhood.