They say that small changes in life can lead to lasting results. Could the same be true for movement? I was curious what would happen if I committed to adding just a little extra to my usual fitness routine. So, I decided to do 10 pushups every day for a month to test it out. Here’s what I noticed—and whether or not you can expect the same results if you try it yourself. 

I’m usually really groggy in the morning, but on the days when I remembered to do pushups first thing, I felt a boost of energy before I even turned on my coffee pot. This is something you’d probably experience, too, as exercise increases heart rate, respiration rate, and core body temperature, which contributes to feeling energized, says Jessica Matthews, senior advisor for health and fitness education at the American Council on Exercise.