There's lots of evidence that exercise is good for us, even essential. If it was discovered as a treatment now it would be the new wonder drug! 

 

It doesn't have to be hard, or even too frequent. But our bodies are designed to move and be active, and there are all sorts of undesirable consequences if we sit about too much. 

 

Here's a fascinating animation - https://youtu.be/aUaInS6HIGo- that tells you why! It's only a few minutes but very instructive. Skip the ad and don't be put off by the monotonous delivery - it's worth sticking with it. 

  

If you want to build in that little extra over and above the good habits I am sure you've already got, it needs to be something you'll enjoy and stick with and that becomes part of your routine. For me, it never used to be the gym. I tried it but for a long time it just didn't fit with my routines. So I would swim. I would go down to the pool first thing in the morning several times a week, whether I felt like it or not (such is the power of established habit that it soon seemed odd not to do it) and by the time I woke up properly I'd be half way through and set up for the day. 

 

However, now it mostly is the gym! I learned on a neuroscience course last year that resistance exercise is excellent for building cognitive reserve, especially as you get older. So that's what I do now - but it doesn't really matter as long as you do something. Even planning a walk as part of your routine is good - but it needs to be something that will stick. 

 

What could it be for you?