Michael B. Jordan doesn’t lose sleep over his body. While other actors are known to set their alarms early to work out, Beliefs The actor told Yahoo Life that he’s learned how to pull off a quick nighttime sweat session.
“It depends on my schedule. It depends on the shoots,” he says. “The shoots take a little priority over some routines. So, even if I’m tired from a day’s work, I’ll train in the evening or when I get home to make sure I have some time.”
Working out is a regular part of Jordan’s daily routine, as he grew up as an athlete and, as he previously told Yahoo Life, being in the industry has taught him to “treat my body like a business.” But exercise is something he approaches with gratitude, not dread.
“On my days off or when I don’t have the luxury of waking up early to do my usual things, I try to find time during the day to do something,” he said, noting that minimal exercise includes “push-ups, sit-ups, treadmill, meditation…. Every little bit of time you give goes into your goodwill piggy bank.”
Jordan says other parts of your health routine are just as important: “I’m 37 now, and I’ve realized that as I get older, my body needs different things and I need to take care of myself. I have to stretch more, take my vitamins, make sure I drink lots of water, make sure I get enough rest. Once I start paying attention to those things and listening to my body, I start to take it a little more seriously.”
The realization came after years of pushing his body to its limits in his work, something he still does from time to time, but these days he’s careful not to burn himself out. “I talk like I can’t achieve a certain level of fitness,” he jokes. “But with all the surgeries I’ve had, and all the injuries I’ve had from sports and stunts, you know I need to warm up my shoulders, I need to warm up my knees, my ankles, certain areas that may have been damaged over the years, and just take my time.”
Taking time is one thing he preaches as he teams up with Propel Fitness Water on the Propel Your City project, making exercise and health more accessible in communities across the country with the introduction of fitness hubs. In his second year working with the organization, he says his goal is to grow and expand, and it’s also a motto that has guided his own evolution.
“I always strive for perfection, but I know where I’ve come to, and that’s who I am now,” he said, explaining that he tries hard not to compare his past to his present self, especially since he’s been documented for years with shirtless scenes. “My work comes with a visual resume and a period of reflection that’s hard to escape. I think you have to give yourself forgiveness and understanding. The reality is that as you get older, everything isn’t the same, and you have to accept that.”
“You can’t compare yourself to the past, even though it may seem that way in your head. You have to understand where you are and adjust your expectations for certain things,” he continues. “Having mental strength is very important. Don’t get distracted by all the noise. I think you have to stay focused on your own little journey.”
