---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What studies say the number one best way…"
description: "\"What studies say the number one best way to start an exercise habit is to give yourself a reward that you genuinely enjoy.\" — Charles Duhigg"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d0/charles-duhigg-1088_best_what-studies-say-the-number-one-best-way_2469684.jpg"
---

#  What studies say the number one best way to start an…

![“What studies say the number one best way to start an exercise habit is to give yourself a reward that you genuinely enjoy.” quote by Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d0/charles-duhigg-1088_best_what-studies-say-the-number-one-best-way_2469684.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d0/charles-duhigg-1088_best_what-studies-say-the-number-one-best-way_2469684.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d0/charles-duhigg-1088_best_what-studies-say-the-number-one-best-way_2469684.jpg)

> “What studies say the number one best way to start an exercise habit is to give yourself a reward that you genuinely enjoy.”

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Rewarding yourself with enjoyable activities reinforces habit formation, making exercise more sustainable.

**In simple terms:** Enjoyable rewards help build exercise habits.

Key Takeaway

Pair workouts with fun rewards.

Themes

habit formation motivation health

Mood

motivational practical

Type

self‑help inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal fitness
- weight loss
- stress relief
- daily routine

Key Concepts

behavioral economics reinforcement learning

Questions to Reflect On

- What reward will you choose for your next workout?
- How can you keep the habit enjoyable long term?

A Different Perspective

If rewards become expected, intrinsic motivation may decline.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Best way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-way/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Reward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reward/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/)

## Related quotes

> [I genuinely enjoy talking one-to-one. I have no shyness about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-beacham/i-genuinely-enjoy-talking-one-to-one-i-have-no-shyness-about-that/)

[Stephanie Beacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-beacham/)

> [I genuinely enjoy helping people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrbeast/i-genuinely-enjoy-helping-people/)

MrBeast

> [“I'm going to start my exercise in courage, living isn't courage, knowing that you're living, that's courage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarice-lispector/i-m-going-to-start-my-exercise-in-courage-living-isn-t-courage/)

[Clarice Lispector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarice-lispector/)

> [“IT TAKES SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR for exercise to become a habit. The external rewards will help get you to that point. After…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-alexander/it-takes-six-months-to-a-year-for-exercise-to-become-a-habit-the/)

Cynthia Alexander

> [“Just as an exercise habit will change your body, a mindfulness habit will literally reshape your mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-scott/just-as-an-exercise-habit-will-change-your-body-a-mindfulness-habit/)

[S.J. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-scott/)

> [I make songs that I genuinely enjoy and love, and just put them out kind of freely and carelessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bazzi/i-make-songs-that-i-genuinely-enjoy-and-love-and-just-put-them-out/)

[Bazzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bazzi/)

> [I'm not saying that I don't like the stuff I put out into the world, because I genuinely enjoy my videos and think they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/i-m-not-saying-that-i-don-t-like-the-stuff-i-put-out-into-the-world/)

[Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/)

> [I genuinely enjoy watching the full-back run up the pitch and going across to fill in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-busquets/i-genuinely-enjoy-watching-the-full-back-run-up-the-pitch-and-going/)

[Sergio Busquets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-busquets/)

> [I'm very interactive with my fans. I genuinely just love them to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benson-boone/i-m-very-interactive-with-my-fans-i-genuinely-just-love-them-to-death/)

[Benson Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benson-boone/)

> [We met in Cracker. I played a maniac fan who murders a policeman and she did my makeup. I thought anyone interested in me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-carlyle/we-met-in-cracker-i-played-a-maniac-fan-who-murders-a-policeman-and/)

[Robert Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-carlyle/)

> [I think growing up in South Africa, and then moving to Canada, I'm just genuinely interested in the difference between the First World and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-think-growing-up-in-south-africa-and-then-moving-to-canada-i-m-just/)

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

> [There are few moments in science in which you genuinely are excited. The discovery of superfluidity in helium-3 was one of those moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lee/there-are-few-moments-in-science-in-which-you-genuinely-are-excited/)

[David Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lee/)

> [I would make a genuinely terrible guide. I can't remember things. I would get half way through telling a story or explaining something and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/i-would-make-a-genuinely-terrible-guide-i-can-t-remember-things-i/)

[Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/)

> [I felt cheated by the way grown-ups told me that the future of the world was bleak when I became a teenager in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/i-felt-cheated-by-the-way-grown-ups-told-me-that-the-future-of-the/)

[Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/)

> [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

## More by Charles Duhigg

> [“If you want to stop smoking, ask yourself, do you do it because you love nicotine, or because it provides a burst of stimulation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/if-you-want-to-stop-smoking-ask-yourself-do-you-do-it-because-you/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“What matters are five key norms,” he told the audience. Teams need to believe that their work is important. Teams need to feel their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/what-matters-are-five-key-norms-he-told-the-audience-teams-need-to/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [America has always had an apocalyptic strain. Yet it also seems to believe that if, or when, The End comes, it will still come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-has-always-had-an-apocalyptic-strain-yet-it-also-seems-to/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [Bromates are regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act, but officials are required to test for them only when water leaves a treatment plant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/bromates-are-regulated-by-the-safe-drinking-water-act-but-officials/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [America is the Saudi Arabia of coal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-is-the-saudi-arabia-of-coal/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“Habits, scientists say, emerge because the brain is constantly looking for ways to save effort. Left”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/habits-scientists-say-emerge-because-the-brain-is-constantly-looking/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [Between calculated risk and reckless decision-making lies the dividing line between profit and loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/between-calculated-risk-and-reckless-decision-making-lies-the/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [Older Americans are perfect telemarketing customers, analysts say, because they are often at home, rely on delivery services, and are lonely for the companionship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/older-americans-are-perfect-telemarketing-customers-analysts-say/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“All our life, so far as it has definite form, is but a mass of habits - practical, emotional, and intellectual - systematically organized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/all-our-life-so-far-as-it-has-definite-form-is-but-a-mass-of-habits/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“Someday soon, say predictive analytics experts, it will be possible for companies to know our tastes and predict our habits better than we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/someday-soon-say-predictive-analytics-experts-it-will-be-possible-for/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“I love Paul O'Neill, but you could not pay me enough to work for him again" one official told me. "the man has never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/i-love-paul-o-neill-but-you-could-not-pay-me-enough-to-work-for-him/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“THE FRAMEWORK: • Identify the routine • Experiment with rewards • Isolate the cue • Have a plan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/the-framework-identify-the-routine-experiment-with-rewards-isolate/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [Barium, which is commonly found in power plant waste and scrubber wastewater, has been linked to heart problems and diseases in other organs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/barium-which-is-commonly-found-in-power-plant-waste-and-scrubber/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [A movement starts because of the social habits of friendship and the strong ties between close acquaintances. It grows because of the habits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/a-movement-starts-because-of-the-social-habits-of-friendship-and-the/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“In some sense, he said, a community was a giant collection of habits occurring among thousands of people that, depending on how they’re influenced,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/in-some-sense-he-said-a-community-was-a-giant-collection-of-habits/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

[Explore all 293 Charles Duhigg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

## More Best quotes

> [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/)

[Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/)

> [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [It's no wonder Pep is one of the best coaches in the world. When I knew I could work with him I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/it-s-no-wonder-pep-is-one-of-the-best-coaches-in-the-world-when-i/)

[Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/)

> [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/)

[Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/)

> [Life is where you love people and use things not use people and love things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/life-is-where-you-love-people-and-use-things-not-use-people-and-love/)

[Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/)

> [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/)

[Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/)

> [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/)

Gene Scott

> [I'm looking to fight the best guys in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-rodriguez/i-m-looking-to-fight-the-best-guys-in-the-world/)

[Yair Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-rodriguez/)

> [Batley and Spen has a high proportion of people working in manufacturing, and we can boast the full range of industries, including high-skilled, precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/batley-and-spen-has-a-high-proportion-of-people-working-in/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

> [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [Any position I was going to be in, I was going to make the best of it. I always do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/any-position-i-was-going-to-be-in-i-was-going-to-make-the-best-of-it/)

[Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/)

Browse all 21,674 Best quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "What studies say the number one best way to start an exercise habit is to give yourself a reward that you genuinely enjoy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charles Duhigg"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/what-studies-say-the-number-one-best-way-to-start-an-exercise-habit/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Best"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/what-studies-say-the-number-one-best-way-to-start-an-exercise-habit/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d0/charles-duhigg-1088_best_what-studies-say-the-number-one-best-way_2469684.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d0/charles-duhigg-1088_best_what-studies-say-the-number-one-best-way_2469684.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d0/charles-duhigg-1088_best_what-studies-say-the-number-one-best-way_2469684.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What studies say the number one best way to start an exercise habit is to give yourself a reward that you…” — Charles Duhigg",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Charles Duhigg",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "What studies say the number one...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/what-studies-say-the-number-one-best-way-to-start-an-exercise-habit/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/what-studies-say-the-number-one-best-way-to-start-an-exercise-habit/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
