Fitness coach and entrepreneur Dan Go urged professionals to rethink their relationship with movement, pointing out that modern sedentary lifestyles drastically underserve the brain and body compared to our ancestors.

“The average American gets 3,000 to 4,000 steps a day,” said Dan Go in a LinkedIn post. “This pales in comparison to our hunter-gatherer ancestors, who got 16,000 to 17,000 steps. If you want to feel like yourself again, you need to MOVE.”

Go laid out five reasons why regular exercise is a cornerstone of both mental and physical health:

1. Mood regulation: Exercise increases levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine—neurochemicals that stabilize thoughts and emotions.
2. Pain management and pleasure: Physical activity releases endorphins that block pain and elevate mood.
3. Cognitive growth: It enhances neuroplasticity, supporting the brain’s ability to learn and adapt.
4. Mental clarity: Increased oxygen to the brain supports memory, flexible thinking, and self-control.
5. Stress resilience and energy: Movement reduces stress and boosts energy, elevating performance in all areas of life.

He challenged readers to find micro-opportunities for daily movement—whether taking the stairs, parking farther away, or scheduling walking meetings—arguing that time constraints are often just a mindset issue.

“Do not sleep on what a few more steps or a bout of intense exercise will do to your brain and body,” he wrote. “It is the #1 metahabit in the world for a reason.”

Dan Go is the founder of High Performance Founder, where he coaches entrepreneurs and executives to improve health and cognitive performance through habit formation, strength training, and mindset optimization. His work emphasizes simple, consistent changes that deliver exponential results.