Kerry Washington explains how fitness and boundaries support her mental wellness

Kerry Washington has opened up about how she prioritizes her mental health through fitness, mindfulness, and intentional routines.

The 49-year-old Scandal star revealed to Stylist magazine that she incorporates pilates, yoga, weightlifting, and walking into her weekly schedule, describing these practices as a way to “reconnect with myself and stay embodied.” 

Washington emphasized that fitness is more than physical activity — it’s a form of self-care.

“In many ways, fitness is how I choose to treat my body with love,” she said. “After years of struggling with body dysmorphia and an eating disorder, it’s good for me to choose loving actions when it comes to my wellness.”

Washington also reflected on her journey as a “recovering perfectionist,” noting that she now focuses on presence and excellence rather than unattainable perfection. 

She explained, “Perfection can’t be the goal for me because it’s a moving target… A big way that my disordered eating manifested was through the idea of perfectionism and trying to control my life.”

The actress further discussed her approach to parenting and family privacy. She is mother to Isabelle, 12, Caleb, 10, and a stepdaughter with her husband, Nnamdi Asomugha, and she avoids posting images of her children on social media to protect their autonomy.

Washington said, “Our kids get to be who they are, not who the world has decided they are.” She is similarly protective of her marriage, sharing that she and Asomugha value privacy despite being public figures.

“I feel like we are more protective of our real truth. That’s not for public consumption,” she explained, underscoring her commitment to balancing life in the public eye with personal well-being.