A self-proclaimed workaholic, Jillian O’Neil describes the early days of her career as a Coach with one simple word: hustle. When a client canceled their session at the last minute, she would have a waitlist of eager members ready to fill it. Any time leftover in her busy schedule was used for a quick workout. Optimization — of her time, of her training — was essential.

Over the last decade, though, the dietitian and COACH X at E by Equinox Madison Avenue has realized that you can’t achieve peak performance and support your longevity without planned moments of rest. 

“You know the saying, ‘If you don't choose to rest, your body will choose for you?’” she says. “There have been periods of time where I had to learn the hard way, whether it was being in the hospital for lupus after pushing myself too hard, or, you know, my period is taking me out and I need to crash out on the couch. I think I've learned all too well about how I can't try to recover from burning myself out — I need to be strong ahead of time.”

Now, as a 33-year-old, O’Neil is prioritizing herself. She tweaks her pre-planned workouts to accommodate her lupus-related joint pain or opts for a walk when her period is draining. She incorporates activities that put the fun back into fitness, like pickleball. She’s also prepping her body now — building and maintaining as much muscle as she can — so that she doesn’t have to play catch-up in the future. (Without intervention, muscle mass can decrease by up to 8 percent per decade, starting at age 30, research suggests.) In practice, that looks like choosing nutrients and workouts that support her muscle mass, bone density, and strength.

To Amanda Butler Palma, working out is just like brushing teeth — a habit that’s long been essential to her well-being. 

The 40-year-old danced professionally on Royal Caribbean cruise ships throughout her 20s and has led fitness retreats around the world. She became a group fitness instructor at Equinox three years ago and now manages the department for two Clubs in New York City. She even taught a handful of early-morning workout classes the day she gave birth to her first child. 

“Fitness and working out is a huge part of who I am,” she says. “...I've always been in a sport or dance, which has always been very physically demanding of me. I guess I really like that — because that's where I thrive.”

As a mom to an eight-year-old and five-year-old, Butler Palma’s commitment to her health has shifted over the years but never wavered. The workouts she used to do together with her husband, also a fitness trainer, came to a "screeching halt” and were swapped with quick solo sessions so one parent can be with the kids. “I kind of became the queen of efficiency — 20-minute workouts. Go in, be super effective, and get out because time is of the essence,” she says. “There's no more time anymore.”

Effective indeed. In October, Butler Palma partnered with an Equinox member to compete in the Boston women’s doubles HYROX, finishing with a time of 1:15:33. She’s currently staying on top of her training for the Dallas competition in November, and the duo plans to take on the New York City event next year. “I like pushing myself, physically, now that I turned 40 — just proving to myself I can still do it,” she says.