I recently became one of those people who goes to the gym bright and early.
Like… before caffeine.

I don’t fully recognize who I am during this time, but she shows up, so here we are.

The early morning gym crowd is a very specific group of humans. Nobody is fully awake, nobody is making great decisions, and yet… we’re all there.

There’s the guy who is somehow on his third full conversation before I’ve even made eye contact with reality. Sir, I haven’t had coffee. I don’t even have a personality yet.

Right next to him is the person who has already slammed what I can only assume is their second scoop of pre-workout and is now operating at a level I cannot relate to this early in the morning. Heart racing, music blasting, ready to fight a dumbbell.

Meanwhile, I’m just trying to remember why I walked into this room.

Then there’s the aggressively cheerful person.
“GOOD MORNING!!”
And I’m like… it’s actually not, but I admire your commitment.

You’ll also see people doing workouts that, at this hour, I simply have to trust are correct. I don’t have the brain power to question it. If you told me we were all just making things up until 7 AM, I’d believe you.

And then there’s me—walking around like I forgot something important, because I probably did. Water bottle? Maybe. Towel? Unclear. Ability to count reps? Absolutely not.

Now add in… this season.

Because nothing really prepares you for trying to build new habits while your body is also doing its own… thing. Some days I feel strong, focused, and like I’ve got this whole routine figured out.

Other days I’m just proud I made it through the door without turning around and going back home.

And honestly? That counts.

Somewhere around halfway through, the minimal amount of caffeine that I have had starts to kick in and I slowly become a functioning member of society again. That’s usually when I realize I’ve been using a machine slightly wrong the entire time.

But here’s the thing I didn’t expect—everyone there is just… trying. Different goals, different reasons, different starting points. Some loud, some quiet, some very committed to wiping down equipment, some… less so.

And me? I’m just over here figuring it out as I go. Showing up, doing what I can, and learning that progress doesn’t always look impressive—sometimes it just looks like being there before coffee, slightly confused, but still moving.

Which, in this season, feels like a win.

Though I will say… as chaotic as it is, I’ll take the early morning gym over the after-work hustle any day. At least in the morning, we’re all just tired and trying. After work? That’s a whole different level of energy I’m not prepared for.