Life is full of surprises...not all of them good. Life's little events can often cause stress, anxiety and a bad case of the blues. Some of these we expect--the change from Fall to Winter is often a rough transition for many of us and bad weather can make you feel tired and cranky. The holidays are often a rollercoaster of emotions, bringing out our best and, sometimes, our worst. Then there are the unexpected surprises--losing a job, moving to a new city, contracting an illness, fender benders and other events, big and small that test our mental strength.
Unfortunately, we can't predict the future, but we can find ways to relieve stress in healthy ways. One of the best ways to work out the stress and pull yourself out of the dumps is to move your body.
Unfortunately, we can't predict the future, but we can find ways to relieve stress in healthy ways. One of the best ways to work out the stress and pull yourself out of the dumps is to move your body.
Soothe Yourself with Exercise
When we feel down or depressed, we look for things that make us feel good. Often, we reach for the wrong things--food, alcohol, sleep or drugs...most of which make us feel worse instead of better. It's important to take care of yourself when your feeling blue and there's nothing wrong with a little indulgence...as long as it's healthy and something that will genuinely make you feel better.
Rather than reach for the chocolate when you're stressed, think of something you enjoy doing...something that feels good to you. It might be working in the garden, taking a slow bike ride or taking a walk with a friend. Think of activities you like but rarely allow yourself time to do then commit to doing them as often as you can. Rhythmic activities like walking, raking leaves or even cleaning can be healing exercises--as your body gets into it's own rhythms, you can let your mind go and work out problems, find solutions or just daydream for awhile.
Article Review Reflection: What have you learned or what surprised you about the information in the article? How or in what way does exercise affect you, your family, or society? With all the information and medical technology available, why do you think our society is continuously struggling with cardiovascular disease and obesity? (Minimum of 10 sentences)
