Bringing my own music to the gym was the trick I needed! Again, why didn’t I come up with that before? I often find myself in situations that I do something that works for me and I wonder why I didn’t try that before. It seems the only reason is that I always did things certain way so I think I should stick to it. But then I know loads of neurotypicals who are also reluctant to change so not sure this can be called an autistic trait.

I exercised for 1 hour and 50 minutes today! I kid you not! Which is exactly what I used to do when I was in my 30s, so my reluctance to exercise that I experienced for the last couple of years wasn’t caused by aging (that’s what I thought) and was only to do with me feeling uncomfortable at the gym due to strange music and the fact I don’t like how space is organised. Mind you, when I listen to my favourite music, and I have a choice of what to listen at any given time, the problem of space doesn’t bother me at all, I feel as comfortable as at the first gym that I used to attend.

Also, for those of you who are not used to exercising: you have no idea how good the entire body can feel after a good workout. There is this myth in the society that going to the gym is like worse chore ever, that people are ‘killing themselves for the look’. Nothing can be further from the truth! The beginning, if you never exercised, can be rather difficult, but stick to it for 4-6 months and you will see that your entire perception will change.

And the best thing is, that after you get fit once, even if you have a longer break in exercises, even one that is really long, longer than a year, it will be very easy to come back to the same level of fitness you once have. I think this phenomenon actually has a name but I’m not sure what it is.