"Break a Sweat to Break Your Stress"
Are you swamped at work? Do you always feel one
step behind trying to catch up on all the chores on your
"to-do" list each day? Do you toss and turn in bed at
night thinking about all the things you should have
accomplished that day, but didn't? All of us have
experienced a hectic set of circumstances in our lives at
one point or another. Maybe you experience stress
every day of your life. This stress can lead to sickness,
depression, and make you feel overwhelmed.
Therefore, how can you combat this nagging daily
stress? One answer is exercise.
Stress comes in both physical and mental forms. The
severity of stress placed upon your body depends on
your job, family, and life obligations. Exercise will
benefit nearly everyone from a mother of five to a
single on-the-go professional. You can find a form of
exercise to suit your needs whether you have just ten
minutes of free time a day or can hit the gym regularly.
Exercise has the potential to be a highly effective
stress reducer. Following are common questions,
excuses, and solutions regarding exercise in our daily
lives.
How does exercise affect the body? Won't it make me
feel tired? On the contrary, exercise has been shown
to increase "endorphins". Endorphins are the "feel
good" chemicals that are linked to an elevation in
mood. This endorphin kick can be akin to eating a
chocolate bar. Chocolate has caffeine and hits the
pleasure center in our brain. Exercise is similar in that
blood pumps faster in our bodies increasing the
oxygen supply to our brain. This endorphin rush is why
many exercisers become addicted to exercise.
Exercise has long been an antidote to stress. Exercise
takes your mind away from the stresses of daily life
while you run, lift weights, or engage in any activity
that raises your heart rate. An added benefit to
exercise is that it will help you sleep better at night.
For many people stress wreaks havoc on their lives by
causing insomnia. Make sure, however, that you don't
exercise too close to bed time. The rise in activity and
heart rate that exercise brings should be completed at
least three hours before bed time. Each person reacts
differently to exercise so test out different exercise
times and see which time works best for you.
How am I supposed to find time to exercise when my
day is already filled to the brim with chores, kids, work,
etc.? Before you brush off exercise time, take a closer
examination of your day. Do you have down time? Do
you spend time watching television? Many people
watch television during the course of the day. This
television time could be exercise
time instead. Record
your favorite TV shows and watch them later after you
have exercised. Time exists for exercise; it is just a
matter of making time and placing value on your
exercise program and overall health.
What type of exercise should I do to relieve stress? I
don't want to be a gym rat and purchase an expensive
health club membership. Good news. You don't need
to sign an expensive gym contract to get your exercise
in for the day. You can exercise from the comfort of
your own living room or head outside and enjoy the
fresh air.
For example, break a sweat with exercise videos/DVDs.
There are a bevy of exercise videos/DVDs available for
home use that range for calming Yoga to boot camp
kick boxing. Some videos/DVDs come with extras such
as free weights, aerobic steps, exercise balls, and
strengthening bands. It is like you have a personal
mini-gym all to yourself. You can create your own
exercise video library and rotate the different workouts
to keep your exercise program varied and interesting.
Strap on your walking shoes and head outside to
enjoy the sights of your neighborhood. Walking is a
low impact form of exercise. It is fun to walk with your
spouse, children, and friends. Many neighborhoods
have jumped on the walking bandwagon by starting
walking clubs. They meet twice a week in the morning
for an hour long walk. It is a great way to get to know
your neighbors and exercising with a partner will help
you to keep on track. This accountability is a great
defense against skipping your workout.
Many people want to get away from the stress of
others. They want to walk and exercise by themselves.
If this applies to you then you can listen to a tape or
CD on your walk. It is a great way to catch up on
books you have been meaning to read by listen to the
audio version. Or you can listen to soothing music.
Either way you can reduce stress from your daily life by
placing your focus on other things besides all the
errands you need to get done that day.
Reduce your stress with exercise. It is a natural way
to energize your body and calm your mind. Make
exercise an integral part of your daily living. You will be
glad you did as you enjoy each day, stress free.
About the Author
Louise is a successful writer and mum of 2.5 children and loves to write helpful stress reduction articles. She provides helpful tips and hints on various relaxation methods. Learn 101 tips to de-stress your life and get free weekly tips and advise by visiting http://www.stress-reduction-4u.com/free-report.html
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