“Trick Yourself” Into Exercising? (Easy!)

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted May 18, 2023

I often talk about the benefits of exercise here in Living Well Daily. And there’s a good reason for that.

Allow me to boil all that advice down to one observation…

Exercise is your ticket to a LONGER, HAPPIER, and HEALTHIER life.

But I get it. Knowing that and putting it into action are two different things.

So how do you finally get off the couch and get your butt moving? Let me share some hacks I’ve learned to “trick yourself” into exercising.

The hardest part about exercising is getting STARTED. These easy hacks can help you over the hump.

Now I’ll admit some of these might feel a bit silly at first. But they WORK. So go ahead and give them a try anyway.

Pretend you’re someone else: If there’s someone you really admire (maybe an actor or an athlete), then pretend YOU are that person. Wake up in the morning, call yourself by their name, and pretend you’re that person while exercising.

Habit stacking: Habit stacking is attaching a new habit to one you’ve already mastered. Let’s say you’re GREAT at keeping up with the dishes. Every time you’re done with the dishes, stack on a little exercise “snack” at the end, like 10 push-ups, 2 flights of stairs, or a walk around the block.

Pay for sitting: If you want to watch a TV show, “pay” for it by exercising during the commercials or before the show starts.

Lie to yourself: If you have a hard time getting yourself out the door for a walk, tell yourself you only have to do it for five minutes. If you’re like most people, once you get your shoes on and start walking, you’ll realize you’re enjoying yourself and continue exercising.

The cool thing is exercise is its OWN reward. So once you adopt the habit, you start to feel so great that it’s EASY to keep going.

P.S. Maintaining strong and healthy muscles is the first step to keeping a healthy body and sharp mind well into your golden years. But that doesn’t mean you have to be a bodybuilder. There are simple, effective ways to BOOST YOUR MUSCLES at any age.

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

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