Explanation:
If you made any resolutions for the new year, chances are you might find yourself now struggling with them a bit. Studies suggest that only about 8% of folks actually achieve their New Year’s goals. Most give up on them in less than two weeks.
Yet it actually takes a lot longer than that to truly change behavior and create a new habit – 66 days on average by one accounting.
How long it takes a new habit to form can vary widely depending on the behavior, the person, and the circumstances. In Lally’s study, it took anywhere from 18 days to 254 days for people to form a new habit.
Creating a new healthy habit means sticking in there. If you find yourself slipping, you recommit to the promise you made yourself – that’s what resolutions are, after all – and keep moving forward into change.
For about half of us, that change involves getting more exercise. Often, it’s tied in with things like losing weight, improving appearance, and improving physical health.
But what a lot of people don’t realize is that exercise brings major benefits to memory and mood, too, and helps protect your brain against neurodegenerative disease.
In fact, says neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki, exercise is “the most transformative thing that you can do for your brain today.”
If you’re finding it a little harder to get to the gym these days – or get out for your daily walk, bicycle ride, or other physical activity – we think Suzuki’s TED Talk on the matter might give you just the inspiration and motivation you need to keep going. Check it out:
More
Support Your Brain – Exercise!
A Key Component to Health & Longevity: Exercise
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