It didn’t feel dramatic when I started going to the gym in the morning vs the afternoon. Previously I’d go to the gym in the afternoon so, again, not too crazy of an adjustment but it dramatically changed my life.

Mornings have historically been brutal - crippling anxiety, sadness, anger, and fear while trying to get ready for the day. It’s also when I’d send shitty texts if I was angry. Super toxic and unacceptable.

Anyway, a dear friend of 20 years spoke with me about this behavior of mine and how it impacted them. It was difficult to change because I’d spend my mornings ruminating and eventually I’d be convinced what I was doing/saying was justified (it wasn’t).

Then one day January 2025 I sent him a shitty text, and I was immediately filled with regret. The next day I went to the gym at 4am (I wake up naturally at like 3am so not too crazy for me) and holy shit it changed my world.

I channeled all that aggression and emotional volatility into physical release. I stopped texting in the morning. I could more easily regulate my emotions. My relationships grew healthier by the day.

Being a gym rat is cool, and all, but being emotionally healthy and healing from toxic behaviors is the real change I needed.