Wellness & Fitness Wednesday: Check your Goals
Tips for Mentally Healthy Activity
Mentally healthy exercise is all about balance. This involves balancing your priorities and goals with taking care of yourself holistically. One way you can make your exercise more mentally healthy is to check your goals.
If you are a Western student, it is important to make sure that you balance your school responsibilities with what your body needs. If your goal is to strive for that 4.0 GPA, pass an exam, or deliver a successful presentation, in all instances you’ve got work to do. Staying active can be something that helps you towards your goals, as it can help reduce the possibility that negative mental health symptoms become full blown mental health problems. It can also give your body some feel-good hormones to help balance your mood in times of stress.
Some people also find it helpful to have a goal for their own physical activity on top of their goals as a student. This might look like running a 5k run for the first time, nailing a handstand, rock climbing a v8 boulder for the first time, or just trying a workout at Campus Recreation for the first time. Having a goal can provide clarity and motivation to get active when you need a break from studying.
If you have a fitness goal - try to keep it manageable, flexible, and clear. You may also want to be careful with ambiguous body-based goals, as these can potentially lead to negative impacts on your mental health, like self-objectification and ruminating on your appearance rather than your experience of the exercise itself.
https://youtube.com/shorts/nr472lVpJUs?feature=share
The Western Student Recreation Centre (WSRC) has personal trainers available to help you achieve your fitness goals. For some people, having a personal trainer can help them clarify their goals and develop clear plans for how to accomplish them. This affordable service is a great way to get started with fitness-specific goals if you’re not sure how. You can learn more here. There are also equipment guide videos available on our website to help orient you to the various areas of the Rec, or more broad orientation videos and information if you've never visited before. In addition, our friendly Campus Recreation staff are always available to answer your questions.
Source:
- - Griffiths, S., Cowley-Court, T., Austen, E., Russo-Batterham, D., & Blake, K. (2022). “Spring is the best time to lose weight”: Evidence that dieting is seasonal and reaches peak intensity during Spring. Body Image, 41, 406-416.
- - Griffiths, S., Austen, E., Krug, I., & Blake, K. (2021). Beach body ready? Shredding for summer? A first look at “seasonal body image”. Body Image, 37, 269-281.
- - Lexie Kite, Lidsay Kite (2020) More Than a Body: Your Body is an Instrument, Not an Ornament. Harvest.
- - https://www.instagram.com/p/C66u15BvpCN/?hl=en
Past Wellness Wednesday Articles & Videos:
Movement is Medicine...Except When It’s Not - Sport and Recreation Services - Western University
Staying Active During Exam Season - Sport and Recreation Services - Western University
Last Updated: April 2, 2025
