For many students, the hardest part of working out isn’t the exercise – it’s showing up.
As a 19-year-old university student, that often means sitting in my room, telling myself today is the day I go to the gym, but struggling to find the energy.
Between classes, assignments, work and trying to maintain some kind of balance, it often feels like there is no real break.
Once you’re at the gym, something shifts. I’m not thinking about deadlines or everything I haven’t done yet.
Instead, I focus on movement, repetition, and being present in my own body.
It gives a sense of control that’s hard to find anywhere else.
Even when my mental health feels overwhelming, the gym is one of the few things that helps me feel better.
The mental health benefits of exercise
The World Health Organization and Physical Activity stresses that physical activity can reduce the symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress.
According to research on adolescents, those who are physically inactive are more likely to experience symptoms of depression compared to those who engage in regular exercise.
For students, this is especially important because stress and pressure are such a constant part of daily life.
Research shows that students who regularly engage in physical activity report lower stress levels and better overall emotional well-being.
This suggests that something as simple as going to the gym consistently can make a real difference in how students experience their daily lives.
Other studies go further in explaining why exercise has this effect.
Physical activity doesn’t just change your body – it also impacts your mental well-being by increasing social support, building a sense of achievement and helping individuals cope with stress more effectively.
For many students, the gym becomes more than just a place to work out; it becomes a space where they can feel connected, capable and in control.
Barriers to staying active
But if all of this is true, why is it still so hard to go?
There are days when I feel too tired, too busy or just not motivated enough to get there.
Sometimes school takes priority, and the gym feels like something I can put off.
Other times, it’s not about time at all; it’s about the mental exhaustion.
When you’re already feeling overwhelmed, even something that’s supposed to help can feel like too much.
That’s the part people forget to mention.
We often hear that exercise improves mental health, but we don’t talk as much about how mental health can make it harder to exercise in the first place.
For many students, the barriers are real.
Motivation can be inconsistent, especially during stressful times in the semester.
Schedules are unpredictable, and balancing school, work and personal life can make it difficult to build a routine.
Even though most MRU students have access to gym facilities, access doesn’t always translate into action.
Having a membership doesn’t guarantee that students will actually use it, especially when they are already dealing with stress, burnout, or lack of energy.
A different approach to consistency
It doesn’t make assignments disappear or remove stress completely. But on the days I go, there’s a difference.
The gym doesn’t fix everything.
For an hour, I’m not thinking about everything due. I focus on moving, breathing and focusing on something simple.
There are still days when I feel too tired, too busy or just mentally drained.
But I have learned that it is also part of it.
Maybe the goal isn’t consistency in the way we usually think about it. Maybe it’s not about going every single day or following a perfect schedule.
For me, it’s about showing up. Even when it’s not always consistent, those workouts, especially the ones I almost skip, still make a difference.