Want to Feel More “Zest” in Life? Simple…Move!

“If you are willing to move, your muscles will give you hope. Your brain will orchestrate pleasure. And your entire physiology will adjust to help you find the energy, purpose, and courage to keep going.” - Kelly McGonigal

Spring and Summer in the PNW brings a sense of renewal and excitement with longer days and more sun. They are also an excellent opportunity to take time for selfcare via movement. 

Did you know the two virtues (character traits that enable us to flourish in life) that psychologists say are the most highly correlated to our well-being are zest (energy) and hope. What is one source of zest? Movement!

In Kelly McGonigal’s book, “The Joy of Movement” she says: “People who are regularly active have a stronger sense of purpose, and they experience more gratitude, love, and hope…At the most fundamental level, rewarding movement is how your brain and body encourage you to participate in life.”

Movement improves our memory, brainpower, mood, performance, confidence, keeps us healthy, and helps us sleep. Startlingly, her research shows the average daily step count to induce feelings of anxiety/depression and decrease our satisfaction with life is 5,649 steps or less! Guess what, the typical American takes only 4,774 steps per day!

The simple act of moving, moderately, for at least twenty minutes a day increases our heart rate and triggers our body’s natural reward for not giving up. The American Heart Association actually recommends 75-150 minutes of aerobic activity, as well as two strength-training sessions, per week.

How do you go about getting started? Follow these four steps, get curious, and ask yourself:

1)     What is your goal/intent? Write it down (you are 42% more likely to do it when you do).

2)     Ask Why (what is the benefit)?

3)     What obstacles might get in your way and how can you step around them?

4)     Take a micro-action (tiny steps so small it’s easy to do), celebrate the win, and repeat!

“Atomic Habits” author, James Clear’s research shows if you decided to make just a 1% change, daily, for 1 year, the compound effect would be 37-times better/different than where you are now! WOW!!

If you want to have more zest in life, then follow these four steps to get moving. Even if you subscribe to exercise anonymous…lol…you can create repeatable habits that lead to lasting change and selfcare! Simply, we are designed to move.

(Original Article: Gig Harbor Living Local Magazine, May/June 2022)