Exercise has numerous mental, physical, and health benefits, including an uplifted mood, reduced risk of illness, better sleep, and potentially a longer life. However, fitting extra physical activity into your routine can be challenging, especially if it is not already a part of your daily life. Here are ten tips to help you create a sustainable fitness routine:

1. Start with two minutes: When beginning a new exercise routine, it's essential to take it slow. Limiting your first few sessions to two minutes will help you start showing up so that you can transition into a regular workout routine.

2. Make it easy to exercise: The ultimate mind hack to exercise is making it easy. Set a specific time and place to exercise, put your workout clothes in a specific, open place, prepare your food, shoes, and hydration the night before.

3. Link exercise with something you already need to do: You can combine exercise with a task you already do throughout your day, such as walking or running to work, running errands, or listening to an audiobook or podcast while exercising.

4. Announce your exercise goal to someone to hold you accountable: Studies show that people who tell their friends, family, and colleagues about their goals are more likely to be successful. Telling others about your exercise goals can inspire you to take action.

5. Think about exercise as something you want to do: When you look at exercise as something you have to do, you rob yourself of enjoying the process.

6. Choose consistency over intensity: To avoid burning out and losing your motivation to exercise, choose to be consistent with your exercise instead of sticking to a rigid “all or nothing” plan.

7. Accept progress over perfection: Your fitness journey will not be perfect or linear, so focus on making progress, no matter how small.

8. Track numbers and progression: Writing down goals, measuring progress, and establishing rewards lead to success. When you keep track of your progression, you can identify what you would like to improve or focus on.

9. Think about the benefits: Remind yourself of the benefits associated with achieving your fitness goals and why you wanted to start exercising in the first place.

10. Reward yourself: Train your brain to look forward to exercising and help you achieve your goal by incorporating rewards.

Exercise can significantly benefit your life, so don't be afraid to start small as you begin incorporating working out into your daily routine.

Your future self will thank you!