Stress is something that many of us feel in our lives from time to time. It could be related to a house move, relationship breakdown or perhaps stress that you feel related to your career or your financial situation.
Anxiety too can occur at any time, but it is when these feelings start to interfere with your ability to carry out everyday tasks and live a normal life, that you need to start improving them.
3rd November 2021 is Stress Awareness Day, which means that there has never been a better time to address your own feelings of stress and anxiety and see if there is a way that you can improve them to a more manageable and healthy level.
Talking to someone is a great way to share your feelings and talk through any problems, but you may not realise that exercise can also lend a helping hand to getting you feeling more like yourself.
How exercise can help
Whilst many people think that exercise only has an impact on your body, it can actually have a positive impact on your mental well-being too.
In fact, there have been a number of studies carried out to show that those people who are physically active can reduce stress, anxiety and depression by around 30%.
This is because exercise causes particular chemicals to be released, called endorphins, which are known to positively alter your mood.
The benefits of physical activity to your mental wellbeing
There are a number of benefits to your mental well-being from exercise. Some of the most important benefits include:
- Increased energy
- Improved sleep
- Less mental fatigue and feelings of tension
- Motivation and focus on your life
- A release of feelings of anger or frustration
- An improved appetite
- More social opportunities
- A chance to have fun
All of these things can help to make sure that you feel positive and ready to face whatever the world throws at you.
How much exercise should you aim for?
To feel the maximum benefits from exercise then you should be aiming for around 150 minutes of moderate activity each week.
This exercise doesn’t have to be sweating it out in a gym for an hour. In fact, moderate exercise can come in the form of a simple 15-minute walk. The main aim is to make yourself breathe a little heavier than normal, but not be out of breath.
You can always start up with small bursts of exercise, such as 10 minutes 3 times a day. Slowly build up a frequency and intensity that fits with you. Ultimately, the main aim is simply to be more active.
If you’re new to exercise, don’t take our word for it, download a free 3-day guest pass from here and let us help you get started.
