Rep by Rep: How Lessons from My Personal Trainer Strengthened My Approach to Academia!
My coach taught me that true growth comes from prioritizing self-care and focusing on my own journey. In academia, I had been sacrificing meals and sleep for productivity, but he showed me that this was unsustainable. Envy and comparison, I learned, don’t fuel progress—personal growth does. These lessons reshaped my approach to both life and research, helping me realize that balance, not burnout, is the key to long-term success. By applying these lessons from the gym to my academic life, I’ve embraced a balanced approach, prioritizing well-being over burnout and finding strength in my own path. Growth isn’t about competing; it’s about building resilience, inside and out.