Why Does EXercise Feel So Boring?
Exercise often feels boring, not because of the exercise itself, but because of the other choices. After a long day, a walk competes with a bed, a movie, games and a phone. Choosing quick pleasure over long-term goals is a natural human weakness. In the famous marshmallow test, children who could wait 15 minutes for a second marshmallow were, decades later, more successful in many areas and had healthier weight. They were not born with more self-control; they used tricks, like covering their eyes or turning the marshmallow into a pretend pet. Exercise can be made more appealing too: make it social, so it is harder to cancel and more fun, or pair it with good things for the senses, like music, shows, new routes and nature.
Word notes:
- self-control: the ability to stop oneself from doing something
- marshmallow: a soft, sweet candy
- social exercise: exercise done with other people, like ball games or group walks
- senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch
Exercise often feels boring, not because of the exercise itself, but because of the other choices. After a long day, a walk competes with a bed, a movie, games and a phone. Choosing quick pleasure over long-term goals is a natural human weakness. In the famous marshmallow test, children who could wait 15 minutes for a second marshmallow were, decades later, more successful in many areas and had healthier weight. They were not born with more self-control; they used tricks, like covering their eyes or turning the marshmallow into a pretend pet. Exercise can be made more appealing too: make it social, so it is harder to cancel and more fun, or pair it with good things for the senses, like music, shows, new routes and nature.
Word notes:
- self-control: the ability to stop oneself from doing something
- marshmallow: a soft, sweet candy
- social exercise: exercise done with other people, like ball games or group walks
- senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch
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