It is common for people to think of exercise as an all on none proposition, they're either on or off the wagon. While consistency within an activity plan is a key factor, many people would be surprised how little exercise makes a difference. The American College of Sports Medicine, following the results of a number of long-term studies on the benefits of exercise, came out with the following statement, “Some is better than none, and more is better than some.” This is true on a few different levels.
When we take the some is better than none approach, we find that the 5 minutes of body weight exercise before showering, the few flights of stairs we climb at lunch, and the 5 minutes of stretching to wind down before bed can be life changing. It turns out that when we go from a primarily sedentary lifestyle to even a low level of fitness, the some significantly reduces our chance of early death. In addition, as we build more activity into our daily routine, adding a few minutes each weekday or a longer session during the weekend, we not only further reduce our risk of early mortality; quality of life also improves. Instead of taking an all or none mentality when it comes to your daily activity, create momentum with some, and the more will follow.
