Build Your Movement

Around a month ago, I completely let go of running. For the past five years, running had been an integral part of my life. I was either running, thinking about running, or feeling guilty for not running. Like many, my obsession with working out began during the pandemic. I went from avoiding extra workouts to eagerly anticipating my post-school runs around town. I even downloaded Strava and became obsessed with tracking my mileage and times.

But it wasn’t just about numbers or changing my body—I fell in love with the feeling of running. It made me feel unstoppable, like I could do anything. If I could push myself to go an extra mile or sprint down a hill, I could conquer whatever challenges life threw at me. Running gave me confidence I never had before and provided a much-needed hobby during a time when the world felt stagnant.

When I started college, running on the treadmill became the one thing I consistently looked forward to. It was my escape from the isolation of the pandemic and the identity crisis of college. My morning routine was sacred: wake up, eat a gigantic Honeycrisp apple, and run while watching Gilmore Girls.

But somewhere along the way, running stopped being about joy. It became a way to shrink myself. It became about the numbers on my Apple Watch, the guilt if I skipped a workout, and missing out on family walks or time with friends just to fit in a run. It even distorted my relationship with food—I justified bouncing between binging and restricting because I was “a runner.”

So, a month ago, I stopped. Before I could return to running, I needed to love movement again. I needed to stop treating exercise as a chore and start seeing it as something that made me feel good. And surprisingly, it’s been working.

For the first time in a long time, I’m excited to work out—not because I have to, but because I want to. I no longer chug black coffee just to power through a 6- or 7-mile run before work. Instead, I take slow walks while watching videos or listening to podcasts. After work, I don’t feel guilty for skipping the treadmill. I choose relaxing workouts like hot yoga or Pilates, which help me feel calm and re-centered. I don’t check my Apple Watch for calorie burn. I just move, feel good, and move on.

But my point isn’t to say running is bad. If anything, social media today constantly demonizes different workouts and foods, turning fitness into a purely aesthetic pursuit. If you do Pilates, you’ll look like this. If you cycle, you’ll look like that. But I believe fitness should be about joy.

This past month, I’ve stopped viewing workouts as a means to lose weight or compensate for eating. Now, I see movement as a way to ease my anxiety, boost my happiness, and connect with others—whether it's sweating through a hot yoga class with a friend or exploring new forms of exercise.

I’m not saying I’ll never run again. But I will never run again obsessing over my watch or forcing myself through it. If you feel trapped in a workout routine you dread, know that you can break free. Movement should serve your mind and soul, not just your body. The moment you stop using exercise as a tool for weight loss, it transforms into something joyful.

So ignore the noise. Explore. My challenge to you? Try three new workouts this month—no judgment, no worries about how you look. Just focus on how you feel.