April 16, 2026
Despite the benefits of daily physical activity, many people overlook it. Busy schedules, long school or workdays and exhaustion make it difficult to prioritize movement.
According to a 2024 World Health Organization study, nearly 31% of adults and 81% of adolescents are physically inactive. When time is limited, exercise is often one of the first things people push aside.
This is unfortunate because exercise contributes to both physical and emotional well-being. Activities such as running and playing sports help people feel energized and uplifted.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, exercise reduces levels of the body’s stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, and stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that elevate people’s moods and reduce their pain.
Technology also influences people’s levels of physical activity. While fitness apps and online workouts can be helpful, the presence of devices at home contributes to sedentary behavior.
ILLUSTRATION BY MARIAH ALLEN
According to a January 2026 article published by Consumer Affairs, a journal of consumer research, Americans spend four-and-a-half hours per day on their phones and check them an average of 144 times daily. About 57% of those surveyed consider themselves addicted to their phones. This dependence on technology keeps people from exercising.
Furthermore, lack of confidence and self-consciousness hinder people’s participation in physical activities.
According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, gym environments can be intimidating because some patrons fear judgment from others, are intimidated by gym equipment and worry they do not fit in with their gym’s culture.
Comparing progress to others or expecting immediate results can cause people to feel discouraged, especially when they do not realize that improvement takes time and varies based on genetics, according to New Scientist, a weekly science and technology publication.
Activities such as running and playing sports help people feel energized and uplifted.
People should not be discouraged by misconceptions about what exercise should look like. Many believe effective workouts must be intense or exhausting, but even simple activities like walking or stretching offer benefits.
A 2013 article published in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology asserts that energy used for moderate-intensity walking and vigorous-intensity running resulted in similar reductions in risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and possibly heart disease over the study’s six-year period.
Finding enjoyable and realistic ways to stay active, whether through sports, walking or running, can make a lasting difference.
Especially as the weather gets nicer, there are so many opportunities for people to take their exercise routines outside. There’s no better time than now to start moving towards a stronger, happier lifestyle.
