In this series, we have been talking about how you can reduce your stress! In our crazy world, we need tactics that will help you to feel better about your life and where it is headed.
Today, we are talking about exercise! Imagine that, a gym that is talking about why you should exercise!
However, as we all know, exercise is something that should be completed multiple times weekly. We know this to be true from a physiological standpoint. This means that your heart pumps more blood and gets stronger, your muscles can produce more force and last for longer and your joints become more stable and cause less pain.
Today, we are talking about the stress reducing effects of exercise. This means that you have fewer stress hormones, fewer blood markers indicating stress and less likelihood of chronic illness like diabetes, cancer, heart disease and kidney failure!
You see, exercise works to decrease these markers. It also serves as a mood enhancer, it releases natural feel-good drugs called endorphins into your bloodstream, and can help you to reduce the stress that you feel from your daily life!
By ensuring that you have time every day to exercise, you will also push out some of the less IMPORTANT tasks in your day. Things like answering that email, working late on a project or skipping a meal are not as important when you are regularly exercising. You learn that those things will still be there when you finish up!
Want to start reducing stress through exercise? Give this a try:
- Start small and with something you know. A simple walk or jog for 20-30 minutes is a great way to start!
- Be mildly uncomfortable. If you choose to walk, walk at a pace that makes you mildly breathless. The same can be said with other forms of exercise that you choose.
- Be consistent. Focus on ensuring that you do this multiple times a week and don’t let anything else get in the way. This is the priority.
- Celebrate your successes! Did you exercise 3 days out of the week? Celebrate in a way that won’t set you back! Reward yourself with a massage or a new outfit! Work to get out of the habit of eating food for a reward!
- Enjoy! This should be FUN and something that you look forward to doing! This is not a punishment!
Work to add these techniques into your daily life! You will be so happy that you did!
Need more help? Feel like you want to take the next step to reduce your stress and improve your life? Reach out to us here and let our experts help you with your exercise and nutrition needs! You will be so glad that you did!
