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The New York Times Well Blog — a must read — reintroduces another must-read idea: “promoting physical activity to prevent or control disease, lose weight or sculpt one’s body, and prescribing doses as if exercise were medicine” aren't the most effective ways to encourage people to exercise.

The post reviews important research from Michelle Segar, who directs the Sport, Health and Activity Research and Policy Center at the University of Michigan. Dr. Segar is quoted: “Health is not an optimal way to make physical activity relevant and compelling enough for most people to prioritize in their hectic lives.”

Indeed, according to the post, “studies have shown that people whose goals are weight loss and better health tend to spend the least amount of time exercising. That is true even for older adults, a study of 335 men and women ages 60 to 95 showed.”

“Rather, immediate rewards that enhance daily life — more energy, a better mood, less stress and more opportunity to connect with friends and family — offer far more motivation.”

And if you feel guilty that spending time on exercise means taking time away from family, friends or other priorities… don't. It's called the “paradox of self-care.” Dr. Segar wrote, “The more energy you give to caring for yourself, the more energy you have for everything else.”