3 Reasons Why Regular Exercise is Vital to Your Success

When was the last time you had an incredible workout?  You know, the kind that leaves you feeling energized and unstoppable.

Anyone that has experienced intense physical activity knows exactly what I’m talking about. There’s something to be said about the feeling of accomplishment you get after pushing through your last few reps or reaching the peak of a mountain after a three-hour hike.

The benefits of exercise are undeniable. There are obviously the physical benefits from exercise like increased energy levels, maintaining a healthy weight, and having a strong, fit body. But let’s not forget the intangible benefits like reduced stress levels, increased mental toughness, improved self-discipline, and the momentum of accomplishment.

The bottom line is this: when you exercise regularly, you create a peak physical and mental state that positively affects all areas of your life.

3 Reasons Why Regular Exercise is Vital to Your Success

Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.

- Edward Stanley, Earl of Derby

In the day-to-day grind of work, life, and pursuing a higher vision, these benefits can be easy to forget. And although our societal landscape has changed from hunting for hunger to feeding on Facebook, the undeniable truth remains: physical activity is essential to our overall health and well-being.

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Even if you already exercise regularly, the three reasons below will give you an extra kick of motivation to improve your physical prowess.

1. Greater mental toughness and grit

Regardless of what you’re pursuing, there are a few traits that are keys to success. One of them is self-discipline.  

Self-discipline is the grit and determination to stick to a task or goal despite the temptation or weakness to abandon what needs to be done.

When you exercise regularly, you’re creating a habit of discipline and a ritual for success. Every day you will feel different about how hard you want to workout, or if you want to workout at all.

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But overcoming that feeling by exercising self-discipline is an opportunity to sharpen your mental edge and improve self-mastery. In time, this will help you to become an unwavering, focused, and unstoppable machine when it comes to pursuing and achieving a goal.

So whether that goal is putting in a few extra hours to finish a pitch to a company, or running an extra 30 minutes to lose those last 5 pounds, you will have the self-discipline necessary to see it through.

2. Increased mental and physical energy

What would your life look like if you never got tired? How productive would you be? How much more money would you make? How would your relationships change? How would you feel every day?  

Whatever endeavor you want to pursue simply requires time and effort, which depends on your energy. And your energy depends on your health and well-being. If you eat the right foods, get enough rest, and exercise regularly, your mind, body, and spirit won’t tire so easily.

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Increased mental energy will help you to maintain a high level of focus in every activity. This will make you more productive and efficient when it comes to getting tasks done. Higher levels of physical energy enable you to stay in motion and complete tasks without getting tired. So not only will you be more focused on each task, but you will have the stamina to endure long days in and out of the office.

3. Your health is everything

Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live.

-- Jim Rohn

I live by the saying, “I best serve others by serving myself first.” This means the better I take care of myself, the better shape I’m in to take care of loved ones, and the bigger impact I’m able to have on the world.

If you work yourself into the ground, become overweight, and have to take three pills a day for your high blood pressure, then how effective are you being?

How much more effective would you be if you woke up every morning energized and present, armed with a clear mind?

What is it you’re working so hard to achieve? Why is it important to achieve the goals you have set for yourself? How will your life and the lives of those closest to you change once you get there?

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The more important question to ask yourself is, “What’s the point of achieving financial freedom if you can’t enjoy it because you’re sick?”

Put your health first by creating a simple diet and exercise plan. It doesn’t have to be difficult, but it’s important to get started and implement one. Your fitness level today isn’t important. Today is the benchmark of where you are starting. It is the beginning of your pursuit of excellence in all areas of your life by putting your health first. If you get started today and build momentum over time, there is no limit to the benefits you will empower yourself to achieve.