Nearly every form of exercise, from Zumba and yoga to weightlifting, can bring stress relief. The secret here is to exercise on a regular basis and to engage in a physical activity whenever your stress levels kick the ceiling. You may, for example, perform stretching exercises and walk around the office for five minutes or so when you’re not getting anywhere with work.
Exercise as a Stress Reliever
Did you know that exercise actually has direct benefits as a stress reliever? Keep in mind that it increases the levels of endorphins in your body, and endorphins are the feel-good neurotransmitters. You probably know it as runner’s high but it’s also observable in every type of strenuous aerobic exercise, such as racquetball or swimming.
During a vigorous exercise session, you will most likely forget the small things that got your goat since you’re concentrating on your body’s movements. Afterwards, you will still be on a runner’s high state that will kick your stress to the curb.
As you regularly engage in exercise, you will feel your daily tensions melting away. You will likely not feel irritated too much, too soon by the small things in life – or in other words, you’re not sweating the small stuff anymore. You’re filled with more optimism and energy – and lower stress levels, too – because you’re not letting things get to you so easily.
Other benefits of exercise, stress-wise, are:
- Improve your self-confidence and self-acceptance because you’re more relaxed about your body
- Improve your understanding of other people’s pain because you’re in a better mood
Start with physical activities where sweating is likely, such as brisk walking from the parking lot to the office building. Then, slowly build up your strength and stamina through workouts at Fitness 19 where like-minded people can provide motivation and inspiration.
Exercise Tips
You may also want to consider these tips before getting into exercise mode.
- Consult with your doctor first, especially if you haven’t exercise for quite some time or you have health issues or you have an underlying medical condition. Some exercises may not be suitable in your case.
- Walk before you run. You have to gradually build your strength and stamina, as previously mentioned, since you don’t want to injure yourself. (Overdoing it will increase your risk of injury so take it easy. The important thing is that you’re on your way to better fitness)
Aim for 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, said minutes of which can be spaced out in regular intervals. Brisk walking and swimming, which are low-impact exercises, are usually the best ways to start. You can build up the number of minutes and introduce resistance training and weight training as your fitness level increases.