This One Small Trick Will Make Everything Better

The title is a lie. There are no simple, quick fixes to better mental health. It’s exercise: it takes work and pays dividends when done consistently and well.

Every time I try to take the easy way out, more often than not, I get burned. Half-ass a task to save a few minutes? I get to do it over in the not-too-distance future. Too lazy to make food so I skip a meal? Both my brain and body will pay me back with sluggish thoughts, physical lethargy, and an overall yucky feeling. Don’t want to exercise because I’ll feel sore afterward and it’s just too much effort? I miss out on the endorphines that keep my sour mood at bay and my body gets sore anyway from the lack of motion that I end up in much worse shape, mentally and physically, compared to taking the time to exercise.

Maybe it’s just me, but I find I’m worse off in the long run if I try to take the easy way out. I have built up lots of anecdotal evidence over the years that back this up. So why is it a constant struggle? Why do I need to continually need to convince myself that if I just put in the initial effort, I’ll be better off? I don’t know. I’m a flawed being and it takes constant effort to chip away at the flaws.