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<\/div>If the idea of exercise seems more attractive to you than the reality, you will identify with Jessica Howard. She had always nurtured the vague intention of running a marathon, but had struggled to get off the sofa. \u201cI didn\u2019t run, I didn\u2019t move,\u201d she recalls. \u201cI was a couch potato.\u201d<\/p>\n
This all changed when, as a student at Bangor University in the UK, she took part in a special module on offer there that aims to tackle a key challenge many of us face when it comes to exercise: motivation. It turns out that there are tricks we can use to help us break bad habits and reach our goals.<\/p>\n
Summoning the will to exercise is a huge challenge for most people (see \u201cWhy we don\u2019t like to exercise\u201d,<\/a> below). This is particularly problematic in higher-income countries, which have twice the levels of inactivity compared with lower-income ones, and where many people aren\u2019t sufficiently active to stay healthy in the long term<\/a>.<\/p>\n Certain barriers, such as ill health or a lack of suitable space and resources, can seriously restrict our capacity to exercise. For many, however, the battle is internal: we struggle to carve out the time. We may fully recognise the long-term benefits for our physical and mental health, but get drawn to things that bring more immediate rewards without the need to break a sweat \u2013 like slouching in front\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n