Want to stay current with Arthur’s writing? Sign up to get an email every time a new column comes out.
In a recent column, I wrote about the morning protocol I employ and recommend to increase well-being and manage negative affect (low mood). Part of that protocol involves starting the day with vigorous exercise. This recommendation provoked a lot of questions from readers: What kind of exercise is best for well-being? How often do you need to do it, and how long should it last? And what’s the best way to get started? I’ll answer these questions this week.
No official standards exist for the amount of exercise to optimize happiness, but if they did, most Americans would almost certainly fall below them—because most people don’t exercise enough, if at all. Only 24 percent of adults meet the federal guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities. These guidelines do not exactly enter “gym rat” territory: at least 150 minutes a week (that’s about 21 minutes a day) of moderate activity such as brisk walking, plus a few body-weight exercises on different muscle groups (such as sit-ups or push-ups), at least twice a week.
The good news, then, is that the bar is reasonably low—you don’t need to train like an Olympic athlete to get the benefits of exercising.
Continue Reading on The Atlantic
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.