Stress - how exercise can help
One way to take control of the stress in your life is through physical activity. being active can boost your feel-good endorphins and distract you from daily worries.
One way to take control of the stress in your life is through physical activity. being active can boost your feel-good endorphins and distract you from daily worries.
According to the Mayo Clinic, an American not-for-profit medical practice and research group, virtually any form of exercise, from aerobics to weightlifting, can act as a stress reliever. If you’re not an athlete or even if you’re completely out of shape, you can still make a little exercise go a long way towards stress management. Discover the connection between exercise and stress relief — and why exercise should be part of your stress management plan.
Exercise and stress relief
Exercise increases your overall health and your sense of wellbeing, which puts more pep in your step every day. But exercise also has some direct stress-busting benefits:
It pumps up your endorphins. Physical activity helps to bump up the production of your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins. Although this function is often referred to as a runner’s high, a rousing game of tennis or a nature hike also can contribute to this same feeling.
It’s meditation in motion. After a fast-paced game of tennis or several laps in the pool, you’ll often find that you’ve forgotten the day’s irritations and concentrated only on your body’s movements. As you begin to regularly shed your daily tensions through movement and physical activity, you may find that this focus on a single task, and the resulting energy and optimism, can help you remain calm and clear in everything you do.
It improves your mood. Regular exercise can increase self-confidence and lower the symptoms associated with mild depression and anxiety. Exercise also can improve your sleep, which is often disrupted by stress, depression and anxiety. All this can ease your stress levels and give you a sense of command over your body and your life.
Government and fitness experts generally recommend we do 30 minutes of moderate physical activity – such as brisk walking – on at least five days a week, which can be in one session or broken down into three 10-minute blocks throughout the day.
Currently only 37% of men and 25% of women are managing this.
Physical activity can boost your mental wellbeing and improve your outlook on life. It can help people with anxiety and depression, and might prevent such problems from developing in the first place. “People who are physically active generally feel better about themselves,” says Professor Mark Batt, an NHS consultant and special professor in sport and exercise medicine in Nottingham.
“As you become more physically active, you start thinking about other aspects of your health, such as diet and smoking. “It usually leads to significant beneficial lifestyle changes.”
for more information on coping with stress visit http://www.isma.org.uk/