Exercise Affects How We Cope . . .
How are you doing? Dealing with all the COVID -19 ‘Stay-Home’ & ‘Social Distancing’ restrictions are tough enough on their own – put them together with all the uncertainty that is being forced upon us (time-wise, health-wise, financially & economically etc.) – it is no wonder many are struggling to cope, particularly, psychologically.
So – more than ever it is vital that we move / exercise. Being told to stay-put is one thing – hunkering-down & not moving your body is another & the latter being – not good for us on so many levels! And now, being strong & fit more than ever holds true and is as equally important when it comes to being mentally strong & fit. Stress breaks down our immune system & lowers our body’s ability to fight disease.
In a recent Healthline.com article they shared a study done by the World Health Organization (WHO) that found people who did 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week experienced better mental health & found it easier to cope with anxiety & depression than those who didn’t.
Many of us know, doing an activity that combines aerobic & muscle-building (like Pole Walking) everyday helps us in terms of maintaining weight, avoiding such chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease & some cancers – but interesting enough many forget about the mental wellness fringe-benefits that can be felt. The more-energy, clearer-mind, more positive attitude that we experience doesn’t just affect us mentally & physically but they affect how we experience our whole day which in turn affects everyone around us. And with many of us being forced to be home every-day / all-day with loved ones – those benefits can make a big difference in helping everyone to cope.
I can’t explain it but when I am consistent about getting out every day (even if it’s just for a quickie /short Walk) – I am a lot easier to get along with! I find I am more patient, tolerant & loving. . . I don’t know – but I swear, everyone around me seems to be a lot easier to get along with – a coincidence? . . . I don’t think so.
Like the study mentioned above – it’s a scientific fact that we reduce anxiety & handle stress better when we exercise. Exercise lowers our body’s stress hormones — such as cortisol — which in turn helps us to release endorphins, which are naturally produced chemicals that improve our mood.
On top of all that – science aside – when we exercise we:
- Mentally – Feel better about ourselves: We often feel proud that we did it – that we got out & exercised. In turn, happy that it’s done & we feel good that we are able to check another task off our list!
- Physically – Have more energy & clarity: We end up increasing the oxygen & blood-flow that goes to our heart, our lungs, our brains & all of our muscles – which can is better than any Java jolt!
And just imagine, right NOW with all that is going on, if everyone felt better about themselves, had more energy & were more patient, tolerant & loving with one another?. . . What a difference it would make!
So get out with your Poles – 150 hours /week (equals only 30-minutes-5-days/week OR 21.5-minutes-7-days/week) – not too big of an investment given all the health & happiness benefits!
Stay Safe & Keep Healthy♥