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A study that says that exercise cures this or that seems to come out every week, but the fact remains remains that convincing people to do it is the hard part.

A study that says that exercise cures this or that seems to come out every week, but the fact remains remains that convincing people to do it is the hard part. To quote Ann from Parks and Rec: "Jogging is the worst, Chris. I mean, I know it keeps you healthy, but God, at what cost?" The only thing I can say is start with as only much as you're comfortable with and no more, and pat yourself on the back for doing it. Building the habit is so much more important than making progress in the beginning.

agumonkey 9y ago
I don't get what system in our brain causes so much resistance to new obviously rewarding habits. Sometimes it's so hard, to get started. It's indeed a huge step to begin a schedule. That said I also found that there's a step where I'm motivated just to see if I can reach a goal. Say 5km jogging. And when I reached it, I may try a new goal, but very often I suddenly lose most desire and pleasure. Before that, every mile felt like a victory nearby. Now it's meh. I guess it's necessary to account for such "plateau" and wave around a goal for a while, then have a stretch up period, then loop.
- nicolashahn 9y ago
  >I don't get what system in our brain causes so much resistance to new obviously rewarding habits. Easy. Before agriculture, calories were hard to come by. If you ran around for no good reason, that meant you wouldn't have enough energy to catch whatever animal was nearby when you needed food and you'd die. Death by hunger was a much more real threat than death by sedentary lifestyle when evolution was wiring all our circuits up.
  - agumonkey 9y ago
    It doesn't necessary have to do with calories. Even, say, reading, or learning.
- eitland 9y ago
  > I don't get what system in our brain causes so much resistance to new obviously rewarding habits. I won't go into details about what I think - but two books that have helped me understand and deal with the symptoms (and possibly helped me help others) are: Do the Work - Steven Pressfield The Now Habit - Neil Fiore
  - agumonkey 9y ago
    Thanks, just what I was looking for. ps: something someone (I forgot who) said too is : finish finish finish. multitasking is only worth to an extent; past some point it becomes an addiction in itself.

agumonkey 9y ago

I don't get what system in our brain causes so much resistance to new obviously rewarding habits. Sometimes it's so hard, to get started. It's indeed a huge step to begin a schedule. That said I also found that there's a step where I'm motivated just to see if I can reach a goal. Say 5km jogging. And when I reached it, I may try a new goal, but very often I suddenly lose most desire and pleasure. Before that, every mile felt like a victory nearby. Now it's meh. I guess it's necessary to account for such "plateau" and wave around a goal for a while, then have a stretch up period, then loop.

nicolashahn 9y ago
>I don't get what system in our brain causes so much resistance to new obviously rewarding habits. Easy. Before agriculture, calories were hard to come by. If you ran around for no good reason, that meant you wouldn't have enough energy to catch whatever animal was nearby when you needed food and you'd die. Death by hunger was a much more real threat than death by sedentary lifestyle when evolution was wiring all our circuits up.
- agumonkey 9y ago
  It doesn't necessary have to do with calories. Even, say, reading, or learning.
eitland 9y ago
> I don't get what system in our brain causes so much resistance to new obviously rewarding habits. I won't go into details about what I think - but two books that have helped me understand and deal with the symptoms (and possibly helped me help others) are: Do the Work - Steven Pressfield The Now Habit - Neil Fiore
- agumonkey 9y ago
  Thanks, just what I was looking for. ps: something someone (I forgot who) said too is : finish finish finish. multitasking is only worth to an extent; past some point it becomes an addiction in itself.