Ask HN: What are your most valuable habits?

- Keeps one mentally sharper - Increases self discipline - Feels good - Anti-aging benefits - Increase self esteem - etc.

However, it goes deeper than that. What drives people to get up and go to work? How about to study for an exam? What about video games?

In almost every part of our lives there's either a whip close behind us or a carrot in front of us. The motivations for these things comes from our reptilian brain which knows only pleasure and pain.

However when you decide to exercise, you're overriding the reptilian brain with the commands from your neocortex.

This overriding is one of the most important things in life. It's not enough to do it just once or for a few weeks. When that level of control becomes part of your life, it changes who you are.