Sometimes it’s difficult to find the motivation for exercise every day, and depending on where you’re at in your life, there may be other priorities you might be convincing yourself you should focus on instead. Well my friends, working out at least five days a week should be a priority, even if it’s for twenty minutes.

Believe me, the benefits outweigh the pain and time constraints that daily exercise might bring, and they are surely worth the time you put in the gym. Whether you’ve just overcome an injury or you haven’t figured out a maintainable routine, today is the day that you lose the excuses and discover the motivation you need to live a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.

Exercise benefits much more than achieving a “spring break bod” or losing weight. It promotes better sleep quality, enhances your daily energy levels, and most importantly, studies show exercise helps you live a longer, healthy life.

Reasons to Start Exercising Day-to-day:

1. Exercise boosts happiness levels

Happiness seems to be the number-one thing people consciously and subconsciously search for on a daily basis. Whether you undergo a mild workout at home or an intense interval-training program at your local gym, you can expect your physical activity to be a solid mood-booster. Aerobic exercise is the best for serotonin production and release. Exercise makes you feel better about yourself, and certainly more accomplished. The coolest thing about fitness is that it’s all about YOU; your goals, your progress, and your results cannot be compared to anyone else’s because every body is different in it’s own unique way.

2. Exercise demonstrates the power of goal setting

Obviously you can’t just change your body and your exercise capabilities overnight. Fitness is all about setting goals for yourself and you need a plan to achieve those goals. Daily exercising will teach you how to be more accountable, diligent, and dedicated.

3. Exercise promotes SLEEP

Exercise is proven to strengthen individual circadian sleep rhythms. Not only does working out improve daily energy levels, it helps you catch some quality Z’s at the end of a long day. It is, however, still up to you to develop an adequate sleep schedule (which can take months) and to hold yourself responsible for attaining the number of hours your body truly needs each night.

4. Exercise generates a longer life span

The longer you live, the more time you’ll get to spend with your loved ones, travel, follow your passions and experience the world around you. Even if you struggle with obesity or other health issues that can decrease your life span, daily exercise (no matter how intense) can actually improve those numbers by a year or two. Regular exercise can help prevent or manage common health issues like stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, arthritis, and even certain types of cancer.

5. Exercise enhances your sex life

Physical affection is a significant element of an intimate relationship. Daily exercise can improve energy levels and appearance, which in turn may fuel your sex life. Regular physical activity is suggested to enhance arousal for women and men by boosting hormone levels and strengthening various muscles used during intercourse. According to Mayo Clinic, men who exercise regularly are less likely to have erectile dysfunction than men who don’t exercise.

Everyone experiences days where it’s hard to find an incentive to go to the gym. It’s during these times that you must remind yourself of your goals and the dedication it’s going to take to achieve them. Don't forget about all of the healthy benefits of fitness either! Understand that you don’t have to exercise every single day. In fact, 1-2 rest days a week are very beneficial for your body; rest allows you to relax and refuel.

Remember, fitness is a journey. It’s not always going to be easy, but it will ALWAYS be worth it.