I stopped forcing myself to work out. Here’s what changed.

Hey there,

A few years ago, this was me every time I thought about going to the gym:

I used to dread workouts because I saw them as a chore. I’d tell myself:

• "I have to go to the gym for an hour."

• "I should do a full-body strength workout."

• "If I don’t push myself, it doesn’t count."

…And guess what? I barely exercised. 💀

But everything changed when I stopped forcing myself to work out and started doing THIS instead:

1. I made it about movement, not ‘working out.’

I told myself: "Just move today." That’s it.

No pressure. No “gym rules.” If I didn’t want to lift weights, I did yoga or went for a walk. If I felt tired, I stretched for 10 minutes.

Small movement > No movement.

TRY THIS: Instead of saying, “I have to work out today,” try saying:
✔️ "I get to move my body today."
✔️ "I’ll do something that feels good."

2. I changed my environment.

If you hate your gym, your workouts will always feel like punishment. So I stopped forcing myself into routines I didn’t enjoy.

Instead, I:
✅ Tried new workouts (bouldering, pilates, swimming)
✅ Stopped using workout plans that didn’t fit my menstrual cycle
✅ Created a habit tracker in Notion to see what actually worked for me

One of the biggest game-changers? Tracking my habits, not just my workouts. Instead of stressing about whether I did a “real” workout, I started tracking any kind of movement—whether it was a 10-minute yoga session, a quick walk, or bouldering with friends.

💡 PS: If you want to make movement feel fun and effortless, try tracking it in Notion! My Notion Habit Tracker helps me stay consistent without guilt—grab it here. 

3. I focused on consistency, not intensity.

I used to think:
“If I don’t do an hour-long workout, it doesn’t count.”

Now, my mindset is:
⏳ 15 minutes of movement is better than nothing.
🏆 The goal is to show up, not be perfect.

And once I stopped overcomplicating things, working out became easy.

Now, instead of dreading workouts, I look forward to them—because I do what I actually enjoy.

🔥 Final Thoughts:

If you’re struggling to work out, stop forcing it. Instead of following a strict, one-size-fits-all plan, listen to your body and do what feels good.

And let’s talk about something important: women are not small men. 🚨

Most workout advice is designed for men’s bodies, which follow the same energy patterns every single day. But as women, our energy fluctuates throughout the month—so trying to push ourselves the same way every day can actually lead to burnout, exhaustion, and even injury.

🩷 Follicular & Ovulation Phases → You’ll likely feel more energized, so strength training, HIIT, or high-intensity workouts might feel great.
🩷 Luteal & Menstrual Phases → Your body needs more rest and recovery, so gentle movement like yoga, stretching, or walking might feel better.

When I stopped expecting myself to train like a man and started syncing workouts with my cycle, everything changed. I no longer felt guilty for needing rest, and I actually enjoyed movement more.

TRY THIS: Instead of thinking, “I should work out today,” ask yourself:
✔️ “What kind of movement feels good for me today?”
✔️ “How does my body feel at this phase of my cycle?”

Tracking my habit streak in Notion helped me stay consistent without guilt—because movement is about long-term sustainability, not perfection.

📌 P.S. If you want to make movement feel fun and effortless, try tracking it in Notion! My Notion Habit Tracker helps me stay consistent without pressure—grab it here.

See you next week,

Veronika ❤️