If there is one habit you should perform every single day for the rest of your life, which one should it be?
Exercise.
Exercise isn’t just about fitness, as millions still believe. It’s what many would call an “anchor habit”.
Here are the core reasons why exercise is that one habit:
The obvious reasons:
- Prevents chronic diseases
- Increases healthspan and lifespan: Consistent exercise ensures that, at 70 or 80, you still have the functional independence to move freely and avoid falls.
- Better sleep: Helps you fall asleep faster and reach deeper, restorative sleep stages. This, in turn, dictates your energy levels for the next day.
- Cognitive sharpness: Movement increases blood flow to the brain, which improves focus, memory, and even creativity. It’s often the best “problem-solving” tool we have.
The less-obvious reasons:
- Naturally regulates your mood, keeps you “happier”: Exercise triggers the release of hormones – endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin – they fight against daily stress, anxiety, and the “burnout” of modern life.
- More energy throughout the day: It seems counterintuitive, but spending energy on exercise actually trains your body to be more efficient at producing energy, so you feel less “drained” by your daily tasks.
The least-obvious reasons:
- You eat better: Yes, even if you are addicted to junk food.
- The best of them all – You get better at doing harder things: It builds self-efficacy—the belief that you can commit to something difficult and see it through.