Noon Mul

We brush our teeth, shower, groom ourselves, and eat daily. Hygiene and health are part of life — they get done with regularity (otherwise we can get sick.)

Exercise, on the other hand? Not always so automatic. Even if we know it’s good for us, it might not come naturally. Stick to the same low-stakes, noncompetitive activities — the elliptical, a fitness video, running loops around the block, or a weekly yoga class — and it can start to feel like a chore. Motivation wanes.

Try to sweat before you shower. Make the act of exercise an unskippable part of self-care and grooming. The reward can be felt immediately afterwards.

If you want to make movement more habitual ritual, try these:

• Rally with a friend — sanitize a tennis ball or badminton birdie and get competitive.
• Swim in the ocean — snorkel, explore, greet marine friends. If you can’t find a calm cove, swim along the wave breaks. Survival instincts increase heart rate.
• Hike and be in nature — choose a trail with elevation gain (1,000–2,000 feet) or varied terrain: stream crossings, chaparral, alpine meadows, boulder fields, canyons, or desert trails. Diverse landscapes challenge your body in different ways.
• Home movement — if you’re stuck indoors, dedicate ten minutes to movement before showering. Jumping jacks, push-ups, dancing to a few songs. Spike energy and support immune health.

(This is also called habit stacking, for example, you can Exercise + Brush Teeth – Do a set of squats or stretches while brushing teeth.)

So next time you’re about to jump in the shower, ask yourself: did I sweat?