We all know about certain benefits of exercising – above all, that it’s good for us. But this isn’t always enough to get us motivated into actually doing it. If you’re looking for a little inspiration to get started on a new routine, here are 10 reasons why exercise can improve your life.

1. More Energy: Although exercise in itself may be tiring, one of the major benefits of exercising is the fact that it’ll ultimately leave you feeling more energized. Studies have shown that regular exercise helps to reduce fatigue.
2. Improve Your Mood: Every time you exercise your body will release endorphins that help to make you feel good. Exercise really will give you a natural high! (Think: Elle Woods in Legally Blonde.)
3. Improve Your Health: There are so many health benefits of exercising and maintaining a healthy body weight that it’s impossible to list them all here! By getting fit you’ll reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and much more.
4. Improve How You Feel About Yourself: Regular exercise can improve your skin, giving you a natural glow. In addition, achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight can make you feel stronger and more confident, which will ultimately make you feel better about yourself.
5. Play With Your Kids: It takes a lot of energy to keep up with your kids. By maintaining a healthy body weight and working out regularly, you’ll be able to run around with them without constantly getting out of breath. This can be one of the most rewarding benefits of exercising: it helps you to enjoy life more.
6. Sleep Better: When you exercise more you’ll start to find it easier to get a good night’s rest. This adds to the energy boost that you’ll get from exercise in the long term.
7. Increase Your Strength and Stamina: Do you find it hard to go on long walks or hikes, even though you want to? Or maybe even carrying shopping bags up the stairs is a struggle? Exercise more and you’ll eventually be able to handle these activities with ease.
8. Reduce Stress: Exercise can hugely reduce stress levels. If you regularly suffer from stress – or even mental heath issues such as depression and anxiety – regular exercise can help to reduce your symptoms.
9. A Sense Of Achievement: When you start to exercise and see the improvements you’re making week to week, you’ll really get the feeling that you’ve achieved something worthwhile. Be proud of what you’ve accomplished!
10. Keep Your Independence Later In Life: The more you can exercise now, while you’re still able, the more you can reduce the impact of certain health problems later in life. In short, keeping fit and healthy will help you to keep your independence as late into life as possible. So how much will you need to work out to feel these benefits of exercising? That all depends on your current fitness levels. The good news is that just 30 minutes of exercise a day is enough to improve your health drastically. So what are you waiting for?!