There’s this moment before I step onto the treadmill.
It’s quiet.
But my mind isn’t.
I think about how hard it’s going to feel. How long thirty minutes can truly be. How many times I’ll glance at the timer, wishing it would move faster. Each step was forced.
One of my friends told me straight up:
“I feel so relieved when it’s done. But before I start? It’s awful. I don’t even want to begin.”
That really stuck with me. Because it’s so relatable, isn’t it?
And I’ll admit it myself: running on a treadmill for half an hour is pure patience-testing for me. The seconds drag. The belt hums on and on. It used to feel like punishment.
But here’s the truth: the treadmill is a tool.
A tool to burn off the stress that eats at you.
A tool to calm your mind so you can sleep better at night.
A tool to build the heart health that keeps you here longer.
You can choose to suffer through it, or you can choose to master it.
Here’s how:
✅ Change the game—switch to incline walking. Increase every 5 minutes. It made the time feel more like a game than a grind.
✅ I’d listen to music that matched my mood—something relaxing on stressful days, something energising when I needed a boost.
✅ Or I’d just let my mind wander. I’d solve problems, plan my day, or come up with creative ideas for my writing. Suddenly, the time felt like mine, not something to suffer through.
It’s all about tricking my brain into not hating the treadmill.
What matters is the commitment to care for ourselves anyway. To move because our hearts need it. Because our minds need it. Because when it’s over—relief washes in. Calm returns.
Even if starting feels like war.
So if you’re standing in front of that treadmill feeling heavy inside—know you’re not alone. I see you. I’ve been you.
And every step you take, even the reluctant ones, is proof of how deeply you’re trying to love yourself.
Let’s get to work 🫵
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