Exercise and Stress

-


It looks like the weather is finally changing over to Spring. We have a few showers in the forecast, but otherwise this week is a great opportunity to get outside. With the gyms either closed or at limited capacity, many of us haven’t kept up our exercise routines. Yes, there are always things to do inside to keep in shape; but, fresh air and warmer temperatures demand our attention and encourage even the most sedentary of people to go outside for a walk. So, now is the perfect time to refresh your existing workout routine, create one, or breathe fresh life into one that may have fallen by the wayside during the cold, grey winter days.  
 
Exercise can be a tremendous help to dealing with stress as well as helping you stay physically healthy. It provides endorphins, vitamin D, and can improve your mood. And, if you’ve ever seen the movie “Legally Blonde”… "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't." – Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde”.

For those looking to start a new routine, don’t go too crazy with trying to do everything at once or by suddenly deciding to jump into an Olympic athlete’s workout routine if you’ve been out of one for an extended period of time. It’s more about creating and maintaining a habit than trying to be “the best” right away. So, start small. Find things you enjoy doing. Figure out a way to have some simple consistency. And, if you’re the type of person who thrives on connecting with others or a little friendly competition, recruit friends and family as a part of your routine. Having warmer weather means that you can socially distance and still hang out with other people. So, go for a walk together in the park or challenge them to goal that you set together. Check out the resources below for more information and ideas.
 
Remember: every little bit adds up.  So, start small, be consistent, and build on a good foundation.
 
 
-Dr. M

 
Resources:
 
“Exercise for Stress and Anxiety” – Anxiety and Depression Association of America
https://adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/managing-anxiety/exercise-stress-and-anxiety
 
“Exercising to Relax” – Harvard Men’s Health Watch 
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/exercising-to-relax
 
“Stress Management” – Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/exercise-and-stress/art-20044469
 
“Fitness 101:  The Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Exercise” – WebMD
https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/fitness-beginners-guide#1
 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Keeping Perspective

-
Image
  Welcome back from Spring Break! If you're like me, it was way too short.  About the time I started finding my center and remembering to breathe, it was ending.  But, just because break is ending doesn't mean our perspectives should shift.  What perspective were you able to find during break?  I remembered that it's better for me (and my students) if I put self-care first.   How long did that perspective last?  About 5 minutes.  Actually, it would have lasted about that long, but I ended up scheduling an early lunch with a friend that I've been out of touch with during the pandemic.  Normally I dive head first into work and knock out as much as possible on Mondays.  But, with an early lunch planned, I only got a few things done before having to leave to make the date. And, it was the best thing that could have happened.  I had a leisurely lunch for about 2 hours and then returned fresh to deal with my to do list.  I'm now very quickly crossing things off.  And, the
Read more

Stressed....? Who's stressed????

-
Image
  So, I don't know about ya'll, but this semester is already off to a rocky start.  Instead of jumping into a brand new semester and academic year full of energy, hope, and excitement I've spent the last two weeks simply trying to breathe.  This is by far not the best time for a major asthma episode, and it has thrown everything into chaos.  Add in issues with the bookstore, late add's to classes, and all of the usual fun and fanfare that a new academic year brings... and, I'm exhausted.  And, I'm betting I'm not the only one struggling to get things on track.  So, I thought the best thing to do for today is to remember a few things that can help while we're in survival mode: 1) A fresh start is always available.  - If things didn't go as planned, use the afternoon to breathe and regroup.  And, start again fresh in the morning.  You don't even have to wait until tomorrow morning.  You can start fresh with your next deep breath. 2) Go slowly and b
Read more

Midterm Chaos

-
Image
  Ahhh... midterm season.  The time when papers, exams, projects, and well... everything comes due at once.  It's also a season filled with fun opportunities to celebrate with Halloween parties, basketball games, football games, and Fall celebrations.  With so much going on, it's easy to get overwhelmed.  And, for many of us, getting overwhelmed means that we start to shut down, avoiding people and avoiding what we need to do.  So, how do we deal with this?  How do we get everything done? First all, it may not be possible to get everything done. It is possible to simply have too much on your plate.  If that's the case, it's time to prioritize.  Take your to-do list and put it into 3 piles:  Must do, Should do, Would like to do.  And, then proceed accordingly.  Get rid of everything that isn't a high priority.  And, say "No" to adding anything else to your plate that isn't a Must do. Second, start small. Find the smallest thing or least overwhelming thi
Read more