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#004: WORKOUT STRESS

Exercise in almost any form can act as a stress reliever. Being active can boost your feel-good endorphins and distract you from daily worries.

Definitely. Exercise releases endorphins, which will calm you down.

Stress is an inevitable part of life.

And now, more than ever, we are seeing a higher level of stress and anxiety disorders.

Is it really that surprising though? Covid has disrupted everyone lives.

Take Stefan (my husband) and I for example. We had our daughter Maya at the start of the pandemic. The support groups we had in place, like visits to grandma and grandpa, were cancelled and the loss of that support added to our stress levels.

It’s impossible to eliminate this stress but you can learn to manage it. And one way to do that is through regular exercise.

Here’s the science and why it works,

1. Exercise improves your body’s ability to use oxygen

Exercise is one of the best strategies for combating stress.

Exercise increases your blood flow, thereby improving your body’s ability to efficiently carry and use oxygen.

This has a direct effect on your brain and your brain’s production of endorphins – those “feel-good” neurotransmitters.

2. Exercise has a positive effect on your mood

Exercising regularly can have a positive effect on your mood by relieving the tension, anxiety, anger, and mild depression that often go hand-in-hand with stress.

The repetitive motions involved in exercise promote a focus on your body, rather than your mind. By concentrating on the rhythm of your movements, you experience many of the same benefits of meditation while working out.

It can improve the quality of your sleep, which can be negatively impacted by stress, depression, and anxiety. It can also help boost your confidence levels.

3. Exercise has many additional benefits

In addition to reducing stress, exercise also promotes healthy living in many additional ways,

• strengthen your muscles and bones
• strengthen your immunity
• lower your blood pressure
• boost levels of good cholesterol in your blood
• improve your blood circulation
• improve your ability to control weight

Final Thoughts

If you are feeling the quarantine blues, then the first thing you should try is scheduled workouts.

At least 150 minutes of moderate activity every week is recommended. I’d suggest breaking it down into 30-minute workout sessions at least five days a week.

Question: Do you feel less stressed after a workout?

To be honest, it’s been difficult for me to keep up with home workouts. But I have noticed that if I miss a workout, I tend to feel sluggish and unmotivated – and I don’t like that feeling.

So, I’ve been planning and tracking my workouts to make sure I don’t miss them.

I talked about planning workouts in my blog post here:

https://www.austinplease.com/daddyfitness/how-do-i-get-started-with-a-home-workout/

Excellent Resources

Here are some excellent resources if you are interested in reading more on this topic,

• Daddy Fitness – https://www.austinplease.com/daddyfitness