Many Americans see exercise as a fad or chore, or merely as a sign of personal virtue. But being physically active is natural for humans, as it is for all animals. We’re wired for it.

The largely sedentary existence of vast numbers of people in developed countries is a historical aberration of the past century, made possible primarily by labor-saving devices, motor vehicles, desk jobs and increased leisure time spent in front of TVs and computers. Our sedentary lifestyles, together with the obesity epidemic they help foster, have taken a big toll on our health. They have put a drag on the improvements in well-being and longevity made possible by medical advances and positive lifestyle changes, such as the reduction in smoking rates in recent decades.

It’s tempting to think that feeling fatigued, being winded when walking uphill and no longer being able to carry heavy bags are natural parts of aging. But many of the declines in physiological functioning we associate with getting older are largely the consequence of inactivity and being unfit. Being physically fit won’t stop the biological clock, of course, but it can slow it. “Use it or lose it” is truer than ever.

How can you make exercise a part of your daily life? By making it a habit, like brushing your teeth. That’s more likely to happen if you see it as a priority and if it’s easy to do. Find what works best for you in terms of type and timing of workouts and where you do them (at home, at a gym, outdoors). Exercising with a friend or family member or in a group may motivate you and make it more fun. To keep it interesting, you may need to vary your activities. Think outside the box—for instance, consider yoga, tai chi, ballroom dancing or bootcamp classes.

Live Life #VoxxLIfe Strong