S笔记-
Do you think that regular exercise is important
Every Wednesday is Tip Day.
This Wednesday:12 tips for getting regular exercise 钬 and the benefits.
Exercise is a KEY to happiness.Research shows that people who exercise are healthier,more energetic,think more clearly,sleep better,and have delayed onset of dementia.They get relief from anxiety and mild depression.Theyperform better at work.
Also,although it钬檚 tempting to flop down on the couch when you钬檙e feeling exhausted,exercise is actually a great way to boost energy levels.Feeling tired is a reason to exercise,not a reason to skipexercise.
But even when you admit that you钬檇 feel better if you exercised,it can be very hard to adopt the habit.My idea of fun has always been to lie in bed,reading,preferably while also eating a snack 钬 but I钬檝e managed to keep myself exercising over the years by using all these tricks on myself:
1.Always exercise on Monday.This sets the psychological pattern for the week.Along the same lines钬?br/>2.If at all possible,exercise first thing in the morning.As the day wears on,you钬檒l find more excuses to skip exercising.Get it checked off your list,first thing.It钬檚 also a very nice way to start the day; even if nothing else goes right,you钬檝e accomplished that.
3.Never skip exercising for two days in a row.You can skip a day,but the next day,you must exercise,no matter how inconvenient.(Lately,I haven钬檛 been following this rule,and it has really affected my routine for the worse.I钬檓 going to re-double my commitment to it.)
4.Give yourself credit for the smallest effort.My father always said that all he had to do was put on his running shoes and close the door behind him.Many times,by promising myself I could quit ten minutes after I钬檇 started,I got myself to start 钬 and then found that I didn钬檛 want to quit,after all.
5.Think about context.I thought I disliked weight-training,but in fact,I disliked the guys who hung out in the weight-training area.Are you distressed about the grubby showers in your gym?Do you try to run in the mornings,but recoil from going out in the cold?Examine the factors that might be discouraging you from exercising.
6.Exercise several times a week.If your idea of exercise is to join games of pick-up basketball,you should be playing practically every day.Twice a month isn钬檛 enough.
7.If you don钬檛 have time both to exercise and take a shower,find a way to exercise that doesn钬檛 require you to shower afterward.Each week,I have a very challenging weight-training session,but the format I follow doesn钬檛 make me sweat.(Some of you are saying,钬泪t can钬檛 be challenging if you don钬檛 sweat!钬 Oh yes,believe me,it is.)
8.Look for affordable ways to make exercising more pleasant or satisfying.Could you upgrade to a nicer or more convenient gym?Buy yourself a new iPod?Work with a trainer?Get a pedometer to keep track of your walking distances?Exercise is a high life priority,so this a worthwhile place to spend some money if that helps.
9.Think of exercise as part of your essential preparation for times you want to be in especially fine form 钬 whether in performance (to be sharp for an important presentation) or appearance (to look good for a wedding) or mood (to deal with a stressful situation).In college,my roommates and I always made sure to exercise the day of a big party.Studies show that exercise does help.
10.Remember one of my favorite Secrets of Adulthood,courtesy of Voltaire:Don钬檛 let the perfect be the enemy of the good.Don钬檛 decide it钬檚 only worth exercising if you can run five miles or if you can bike for an hour.I have a friend who scorns exercise unless she钬檚 training for a marathon 钬 so she never exercises.Even going for a ten-minute walk is worthwhile.Do what you can.
11.Suit up.Even if you钬檙e not sure you钬檙e going to exercise,go ahead and put on your exercise clothes.Pack your bag.Put the dog钬檚 leash by the door.Get prepared.If you钬檙e ready to go,you might find it easier just to go ahead and exercise.Sometimes,a very trivial thing 钬 like not knowing where your shoes are 钬 gets in the way.
12.Don钬檛 kid yourself.Paying for a gym membership doesn钬檛 mean you go to the gym.Having been in shape in high school or college doesn钬檛 mean you钬檙e in shape now.Saying that you don钬檛 have time to exercise doesn钬檛 make it true.
People often ask me,钬沦o if I want to be happier,what should I be doing?钬 and I always say,钬淭he first thing to do is to make sure you钬檙e getting plenty of sleep and some exercise.钬滭br/>I know,that answer doesn钬檛 sound properly transcendent and high-minded on the subject of happiness,but research shows that you钬檇 be wise to start there.And I钬檝e found that if I钬檓 feeling energetic and well-rested,I find it much easier to follow all my other happiness-inducing resolutions.
* Just spent a looooong time reading Starfish Envy.
* It钬檚 Word-of-Mouth Day,when I gently encourage (or,you might think,pester) you to spread the word about the Happiness Project.You might:
钬 Forward the link to someone you think would be interested
钬 Link to a post on Twitter (follow me @gretchenrubin)
钬 Sign up for my free monthly newsletter (about 46,000 people get it)
钬 Buy the book
钬 Put a link to the blog in your Facebook status update
钬 Watch the one-minute book video
Thanks!I really appreciate any help.Word of mouth is the BEST.
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