Chore. Luxury. Necessity.
I’ve been working out since I was fourteen.
Back then, the gym wasn’t always inspiring.
Sometimes the workouts felt like a chore; something I had to do to keep my conditioning, endurance, and strength.
I spent years in gyms as an MMA and personal trainer.
Some days I loved it.
Other days I dreaded stepping into another hour of pad work or correcting someone’s jab-cross for the fiftieth time.
When you live in a gym all day, it can stop feeling special.
Then I became a Dad — and everything shifted.
I realized how rare a good workout actually is.
How much of a luxury it becomes once your time shrinks and your responsibilities grow.
Family. Business. Clients. Projects.
It’s easy to push your training aside “just for today.”
But “today” turns into weeks if you’re not careful.
Delayed workouts turned into missed workouts.
And when the number of missed workouts passed the completed ones, I knew I needed a reset.
So I made a decision:
Workouts go first.
5:30am.
Before the world starts pulling on me.
Now, when I take the family on vacation, I’m the first one checking out the hotel gym.
Relieved when it’s good.
Forced to be creative when it’s not.
I’ve learned this:
Having the ability to train is a luxury.
Using that ability is a gift you give yourself.
And as my responsibilities grew, training became more than a luxury.
Workouts became a necessity — the thing that stabilizes me when pressure climbs.
They burn off stress.
Quiet the noise.
Clear the mind so I can think, lead, and negotiate with calm.
If I miss a workout, I feel it.
Emotionally.
Mentally.
My balance slips.
Daily exercise is a luxury I appreciate every day
But it’s also a requirement — the same way deliberate preparation is a requirement before a high-stakes negotiation or critical presentation.
Both protect your clarity.
Both prevent you from reacting when you should be responding.
Both reveal the real you under pressure.
So let me ask you:
What is your version of a “necessary habit”?
The one that stabilizes your mind so you can lead with steadiness — not stress.
What habit are you delaying today that your future self will rely on?
What would your decision quality look like if you protected one hour for yourself — every single day?
And when pressure rises at work or at home, what anchors you?
Closing the laptop now.
Time to go earn my clarity for the day.
