7-Will Exercise Make Me Happier? (Part 2 of 4)

Episode 7: In this 4-part series we explore if exercise will really make us happier?  Today, we shift the language.  Listen in and hear the one word that changed everything for me. 

Transcript:

Welcome to Everyday Happiness where we create lasting happiness, in 2 minutes a day,  through my signature method of Intentional Margins (creating harmony between your to-dos and your priorities), happiness science, and musings about life. 

I'm your host Katie Jefcoat and today we’re back talking about exercise 

Yesterday we went through the science of why exercise matters, both mentally and physically. 

I was listening to The Happiness Lab with guest Jessamyn Stanley, a love your body curvy yoga instructor.  

And she said one word that clicked for me - MOVEMENT. It’s the idea that we can be happier through “movement”.  Ah, movement, maybe I can get behind this.  A little reframing in my mind and a little tweak of the wording might make all the difference.  

The science is clear - we need to move.  Movement will make us happier (and healthier).  So, if you really don’t want to run and have no interest in jumping on the Peleton bandwagon, give yourself grace that those types of movement are not for you.  

One way to have a healthy relationship with exercise / movement is to re-frame the way you think about exercise. 

Exercise for happiness can’t be about fixing something. That’s another ah-ha moment. It can’t be about body hating.  So many times we exercise to fix something, to tone something.  

That’s why tomorrow we are going to talk about how we find the joy in moving.  Notice how I didn’t say “exercise”;).  

Until then, let’s connect on social at @everydayhappinesswithkatie and join the community on the hashtags #IntentionalMargins and #everydayhappinesswithkatie on Instagram.