Feeling a Little Stressed? Kick That Feeling with Exercise!
April 21st, 2007
By Bob Lachinet
How do you handle stress? One of the best ways to handle stress is with exercise. This article will provide you with tips that will help you beat stress with exercise so you can experience better quality of life. Whether you’re just getting started or looking for next big thing, the following information will be beneficial to you.
Life can get a bit crazy for all of us. Between work, relationships, and family pressures, we all have those days where we can get a bit overwhelmed. Yet all of this stress that builds up, it’s counterproductive towards a healthy lifestyle, as when we’re stressed, that seems to be the time where we actually do the worst damage to our bodies! So, here’s some tips to help you “de-stress” your day!
We all have stressful days, and after a long, hard day, the last thing anybody wants to do is exercise. Yet, that’s exactly what we should do! Getting in a good workout after a stressful day is a wonderful way not only to work off that stress, but also to keep up with your workout plan!
You may have heard of “Runner’s High”. Many times, strenuous exercise (for example, when running at a moderate-to-high level, and you have a hard time breathing) brings on a feeling of calmness and euphoria. Well, a study in 2004 by Georgia Tech found that Runner’s High was likely triggered by a release of naturally produced body chemical, the endocannabinoid anandamide. The body produces this chemical to deal with prolonged stress and pain from strenuous exercise. So, when you have had a stressful day, a good workout actually causes your body to release chemicals that can relax and calm your mind!
Don’t skip your workout. When you exercise, you pump oxygen into your body, which helps reduce your stress levels. Plus, as your workout progresses, your body releases endorphins, which also can help you relax! And, taking 20 minutes to focus on something other than that days stress can help your mind wind down and improve your mood as well.
Drink some tea. I know - that sounds funny. Yet, British researchers found that people that drank 4 cups of tea daily, had 20 percent lower levels of stress hormones than those who drank a placebo beverage containing the same amount of caffeine.
Get some sleep! Now, that may sound funny, since when your stressed, it might be hard to get a good night’s sleep. Yet, Canadian researchers have shown that people who don’t get enough sleep not only had a hard time concentrating the next day, they also had high stress levels. So, getting a good night’s sleep can help decrease your stress the next day!
Take a deep breath! When the stress is really getting to you, and you need a quick way to “take things down a bit” so you can think about the other ways of dropping your stress level, try some deep breathing exercises. For 5 minutes, breathe in for 5 seconds, then exhale for 5 seconds. Emory University scientists found that by doing this on a regular basis, you can maintain better mental focus as you age!
Bob Lachinet is the owner of Fitness 4 Home Superstore, a specialty fitness equipment dealer recently named the #1 choice for home fitness equipment in Arizona by BestFitnessDealers.com! Find the best way to buy fitness equipment in Arizona - visit our site today.
