Fight Stress With Fitness

Everyone faces some type of stress in their lives…whether it’s work, family or financial, sometimes we feel like we have the weight of the world on our shoulders. One of the best prescriptions for stress is exercise. Not only can it be relatively inexpensive but you can fit it in any time of the day. Study after study shows that regular exercise makes you feel good physically and mentally, and can help relieve some of life’s daily pressures. Stress actually causes you to breathe shallowly, depriving your body of oxygen. So take a deep breath and get moving; working out forces you to breathe and
gives your body what it needs.

Regular exercise helps you sleep. You probably know the drill. Something stressful is on your mind and you cannot fall asleep at a decent hour or you wake up in the middle of the night worrying. It’s a vicious cycle because after a bad night’s sleep, you’re even less prepared to deal with your worries the next morning.

Exercise is a natural mood booster. When you perform cardio exercise, endorphins are released into your bloodstream. Endorphins, which are chemicals produced by the brain, make you feel good, even euphoric. Just one workout will elevate your mood and leave you with a feeling of well-being for up to two hours.

Exercise enhances your self esteem. Accomplishing what you set out to do will make you feel better about yourself. When you are on cloud nine it’s easier to brush stressful events off, rather than let them eat at you. And feeling strong physically makes it much easier to feel strong mentally.