Do you really want your new habit to stick?

A new study from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, published recently in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, found that immediate rewards are strongly associated with persistence in a long-term goal, despite a delayed reward being the underlying motivation.

In other words, if your goal is to lose weight but you sincerely dread each minute of your run, consider enlisting a running companion or trying a Zumba cardio class instead.

Choosing a fun workout provides an immediate reward, enjoyment, and ultimately increases your chances of repeating the process and staying committed to your exercise and weight loss goals.

Have a go. You never know!