The mindbodygreen Podcast 402: How to get your brain to genuinely love exercise | Positive psychiatrist Samantha Boardman, M.D.
4 snips
May 16, 2022 AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Running Is A Powerful Mental Health Tool
- Running boosts mood immediately and also protects against future depressive episodes.
- Short sessions (20–30 minutes) produce measurable short- and long-term mental health gains.
Lower The Activation Energy To Start
- Make exercise easier to start by lowering activation energy: lay out sneakers, pack a gym bag, or wear workout clothes.
- Use commitments and an accountability partner to increase follow-through and reduce flaking.
Be Flexible And Bundle Temptations
- Build flexible expectations instead of rigid schedules: allow shifting the time or length of workouts.
- Use temptation bundling: pair a pleasurable activity (podcast, audiobook) only with exercise to boost consistency.