Unfortunately, intending to workout doesn't actually burn any calories. Putting on your athletic clothes doesn't build any muscles. And sulkily driving to the gym doesn't help your chances of success. However, research from top exercise and health professionals shows that exercise is one of the main factors in maintaining a healthy weight, preserving heart and metabolic health, increasing self-efficacy and even optimizing mood and brain function. It's clear that actually wanting to exercise is the key decider between a healthy habit and another year of failed resolutions. Why, then, is it so hard to make it to the gym? From ancient wisdom to the modern research on habit formation, leading experts weigh in on how to enjoy exercise.

To start, let's take a look at the role of the mind. Controversial as he may be, political strategist Harvey Atwater coined the impactful phrase, "Perception is reality." This holds true for habit formation. If you predict that you will hate a workout and will be sore after, you are already building up doubt in yourself and doubt in the enjoyment of exercise. Over time, this creates a figurative rut in your brain that becomes easier and easier to fall into. Now, your brain actually "hates" to even think about exercise. MIT researchers solidified this point with a 2018 study on habit formation. It showed extreme elasticity of the complex interlacing neural networks that fire before and after a new potential habit. The takeaway: Our brains want routine and will latch onto whatever emotional trends we submit. The solution? Reshape our brains to happily anticipate exercise.

Now, to do this, it's essential to illuminate the reasons we fear exercise. According to fitness journalist Sarah Elizabeth Richards, for the Daily Burn website, for most people, "gym-timidation" stems from lack of confidence -- whether in themselves, their bodies or their ability to design an appropriate plan that won't make them too sore or get injured. According to a survey of 1,000 regular gym-goers, conducted by FitRated.com (an online resource for fitness knowledge and reviews), the most prevalent factors that boost gym confidence for both men and women are: a basic understanding of gym equipment, good music and basic knowledge on how to exercise properly (ex: how to structure a cardio workout or how to appropriately train with weights). So, this could mean hiring a trainer or consulting with the gym staff to get educated, but the FitRated survey recommends just GOING. Further data from their study showed a strong positive correlation between the amount of total days spent at the gym and overall gym comfort level. Sometimes you just have to fake it 'till you make it.

To add some validity to this age-old aphorism, we can look at the writings of Aristotle. The Greek philosopher teaches how to live a life of virtue in his "Nicomachean Ethics." Aristotle explains that to become, you first have to act:

"But the virtues we get by first exercising them...For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them, e.g., men become builders by building and lyreplayers by playing the lyre; so too we become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts."

In our current world, flooded by internet research, health magazines and a stifling amount choice, current understanding tells us that, before we do something, we first need to feel like doing it or to identify as the kind of person who would do it. This could not be further from the truth. Yes, you will, initially, get sore. Yes, there might be a fear of judgment. Yes, some people in the gym will be stronger and leaner and more in shape than you. And yes, it's impossible to know how all the machines work until you try them. Aristotle urges us to say, "Oh well -- that will all change soon enough," and go exercise nonetheless.

All psychological pragmatism aside, there are some other, more tangible ways to make the transition into a fit lifestyle more enjoyable. Esteemed strength coach Charles Poliquin recommends ample protein intake after exercise to reduce soreness. Spotify has hundreds of free workout playlists to give you that confidence boost, and the internet is overflowing with exercise databases, useful free programs and apps, and fit "influencers" to help you learn to exercise.

But at the end of the day, we all know what we need to do to get started: Go to the gym, get our heart rates going, lift something slightly heavier than we did last time and have fun with it.