Over the weekend, I looked at a chart that tracked my running progress over the years — and honestly, I was impressed by how much the numbers had grown. It wasn’t always like this.
I remember my very first run back in 2014. I barely made it from Jaja Hall to the Unilag back gate. Two minutes in, I was gasping for air, legs shaking, heart pounding like a drum. I genuinely thought running wasn’t for me. I didn’t try again for two whole weeks.
But something changed when I gave it another shot — and another. Slowly, my body adjusted. My mind did too. And over time, I began to realize that running wasn’t just exercise. It became a form of self-care — a way to connect with myself, track growth, and build resilience.
Running taught me that consistent effort, even when it feels hard or unrewarding at first, is what creates real, lasting change. That lesson has followed me into every other area of my life. Whether I’m launching a podcast, building a community, starting a business, or creating new habits, I approach it the same way I approach a long run: start small, stay consistent, observe, learn — and keep going. The good days and the bad ones all count.
So for me, self-care isn’t always about rest — though that has its place. Sometimes, it’s about motion. It’s about showing up for yourself again and again, especially when it’s hard. It’s about trusting that growth doesn’t always show up immediately, but if you stay with it, it compounds — just like the miles I’ve run, or the version of myself I’ve slowly become.
This is about running. And it’s also not about running.
How do you practice self-care?
Michael Okunloro | Elevate Your Style 