Working out can honestly be the worst. Seriously, there are some days were I can barely confirm that I’m “Still Watching My Program” on Netflix, so you can imagine why the idea of repeated voluntary movement doesn’t always sound all that fun to me.

But working out can also be the best.

And this isn’t coming from some crazy fitness guru, or four season athlete; no, this is coming from someone who’s often very stressed and very busy, and let me tell you honestly that working out is one of the most cathartic things you can do. When you have four tests and a paper due tomorrow, but you just can’t focus, taking a walk, doing some squats, or hopping on the treadmill can make a world of difference to your mood. So although I am in no way qualified to advise others on athletics, here are three tips to help you actually enjoy working out this fall!

1. Make a killer playlist.

Music makes everything better, so make a playlist filled with all your favorite songs to get you pumped and moving! Early 2000s pop, EDM, and rap are pretty much staple genres for any workout playlist. Personally, I suggest, “Pon de Replay” by Rihanna, “Surrender” by Cash Cash, “Silhouettes” by Avicii, and “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce,

2. Customize your workout to your strengths.

You can’t like or be good at everything, so if you don’t like running, then don’t concentrate your time on something you hate. Try something else, like lifting weights, doing squats, etc. Ask your friends, or google different types of workouts, then go crazy! Try everything out and find what works for you!

3. Know your limits.

I cannot stress this enough: do not let yourself become a victim of gymtimidation. Just because the person next to you is running 13 mph with their treadmill incline turned up all the way, does NOT mean there’s any reason you need to be doing that too. If you can only lift 5 lbs., then that’s awesome; if you can lift 150 lbs., that’s awesome too! Don’t push yourself to the point to which you could seriously injure yourself, just because you’re worried about what the person next to you is doing. Remember, you’re doing this because you want to.

So even though it may sound daunting at first, working out can actually be something to look forward to! To quote the infamous Elle Woods, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy,” so grab a friend and a water bottle and start de-stressing your life ASAP.

And hey, don’t forget to reward yourself with a post-workout smoothie at Smoothie King afterward!