Hobby Spotlight #3: Exercise

How to make exercise a hobby + what I do!

Jul 14, 2025

The pressure to do something “hard”

When I was in high school, trying to decide what college to go to and what major to pursue, I felt pressure to do something “hard”.

A lot of this pressure came from me. But a lot of it also came from the school I went to and the academic environment it bred.

My school was focused on test scores and grades and doing hard things. So when it came to picking my major, I felt like I had to do something “hard.” Something they didn’t let everyone in. Something that required lots of studying. Something you could brag about being a part of.

So I chose nursing.

I chose it for many reasons but one of them was that it was hard.

And lately, I found myself applying the same principle to exercise.

I felt like I had to pick something hard. Something that not everyone could do. Something that required a lot of work and effort.

I started trying more HIIT workouts, running, going to spin classes, and doing more circuit style strength training.

And guess what?

This was not good for my body. Not in this season with the health goals I have. And honestly, from what I have learned about women’s health, not good for most women in general.

Exercise is something I have always aspired to do consistently. But whenever I get the motivation, make a plan, and start implementing it, it never seems to take long for me to fall off it.

I needed to change something.

My New Exercise Plan

So, I sat down and thought about:

What kind of workouts I actually enjoy
What my goals are
What makes me feel my best

And I drafted a workout plan that fits my preferences, my goals, and my season of life.

Other people might look at it and say it doesn’t look very hard. They might think I am not doing enough, or I’m out of shape.

That’s okay. This is what works for me.

Here are the things I am mixing in throughout my week:

Pilates - I took my first Reformer class last year, and I loved it. It is strength and flexibility and balance and core. It’s low-intensity but still makes me sore. It clears my mind and makes me feel calm.
Walking - Walking really is such a versatile form of exercise. You can walk alone, with a friend, go slow, go fast, explore a new route - it’s easy to adapt.
Strength - I’ll be honest, weight-lifting is not my favorite. But I know it’s important. It helps to remind myself it doesn’t have to be long - even 10 minutes counts.
Dance - I think dance workouts are so fun. It’s basically like playing Just Dance but maybe with a few more squats mixed in.
Biking - Right now, I mean real biking. Although in winter, I’ll probably swap for stationary. I want to care for my heart, and biking is a great way to do that.
Sports - Jackson and I like to occasionally play basketball or pickleball at the park. I wouldn’t say this is a regular part of my routine, but definitely something fun to sprinkle in every now and then!

I share my plan not so you can copy and paste it into your life.

I share it to show you that, like me, you can make exercise a hobby you enjoy!

Tips for Making Exercise a Hobby

Maybe exercise doesn’t feel like a hobby to you right now. Maybe it feels more like something you have to drag yourself to or trick yourself into doing.

Here are some tips for how to make exercise a hobby!

Pick something you actually enjoy! Make the switch from “I have to” → “I want to.” If it’s fun, you’ll stick with it.
Do it with others! You don’t always have to make it a social activity, but you can. Having other people can make the time pass faster, hold you accountable, and make you push yourself more.
Pair it with something fun! Walk on the treadmill while you watch your favorite show. Lift weights while you listen to a podcast. Play music while you go on a bike ride. Make it an experience you look forward to!
Find a routine that works for you. Do the same thing every day or mix it up. Just be realistic about what you can stick to in your current season of life!
Let yourself be bad! Don’t be afraid to pick something you aren’t good at. Maybe you want to try a new sport or a new workout class. Don’t let the fear of being a beginner stop you - being a beginner is a beautiful thing.

Caroline Williams

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