Why do People Underestimate the Importance of Exercise?

People tend to underestimate the importance of exercise because it is convenient to do so. You generally don't want to hear about all the benefits of an active lifestyle when you basically sit on your backside all day. You read about how making time for regular exercise can reduce your chances of having a heart attack and developing cancer, but you put this to the back of your mind or tell yourself that you're not really that unfit. It is easy to kid yourself that your trip to the swimming pool or walk in the countryside once a month makes you fit.

Unfortunately, though, to access the benefits of exercise you really have to get physically active for half an hour, five days a week, if not more. You need to do something of moderate intensity so that you get slightly out of breath and feel that you're actually trying. Half an hour every other day doesn't sound a huge amount of time to spend doing some kind of physical activity, but for some people even this small chunk of time is too much. They would prefer to chill out in front of the television when they get home from work, instead of worrying about getting some exercise.

Consequently, they tell themselves that exercise isn't that important. If you would prefer to spend your free time lazing around, then of course you're going to try to downplay the importance of exercise. However, you can't get away from the fact that leading a sedentary lifestyle isn't particularly good for you, especially when your health starts to catch up with you. If you're always coming down with colds and seem to pick up anything and everything going around the office, it suggests you may not have the strongest immune system in the world.

Regular exercise can help to improve your general health and fitness in the short-term and also reduce the long-term health risks of leading an inactive lifestyle. You may not think that your lack of exercise is a problem, especially if you are a healthy weight, but you shouldn't just think of exercise as a way to control your weight. It is much more than that, since being thin doesn't necessarily mean you are fit and healthy, anyway. By exercising regularly, you will notice that you feel more upbeat and energetic, that you sleep better and that you are better able to cope with stress.

The reality is that most people are well aware of the importance of regular exercise, but prefer to lead a lifestyle that doesn't involve doing anything physically active and so make excuses about why they can't exercise. They tell themselves that they don't have enough time, because they have their career or family to think about, when in actual fact they just can't be bothered. Alternatively, they make a half-hearted attempt to get more active, telling themselves they are quite fit when all they do is walk to the car! However, by trying to ignore the importance of exercise these people lose out.