When it comes to stress it is insanely difficult for anyone to find time to exercise whether it be cardio or even yoga. With main causes of stress being either financial pressures, job security, and the overall economy why w
ould anyone have time to manage their stress with more strenuous activity like exercise.
This isn’t the best way to look at it. In fact according to the mayo clinic exercise increases endorphins; your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters. Exercise is a known distraction from the daly irritations that create stress. After a long mind clearing run or a couple laps in the pool all the days stresses seem to dissipate for that short time of activity. A small but crucial mental rest from stress is vital to the importance of keeping a healthy mind and body; thus reducing overall stress levels.
A great resource provided by the American Psychological Association are the most common physical symptoms of stress. These symptoms include irritability or anger, fatigue, and lack of motivation. In correlation to these symptoms you can find that exercise actually helps curb these physical stresses. As said earlier in the post other than the release of endorphins and other chemicals like serotonin in the brain to increase a more positive uplifted mood, exercise also creates a sense of accomplish
ment giving the individual a boost of motivation. If exercise didn’t sell you yet, it is proven that exercise helps not only your mental health but also your bones, complexion, muscles, and even brain power!
So next time you are feeling a bit overwhelmed and stressed out throw on some running shoes or go to a yoga class and you may just find yourself feeling better than ever!
I really enjoyed this blog post, and I completely agree with the points you made! Every time I feel stressed or am frustrated, I find exercising really helps me feel better and a lot less overwhelmed. But I also find that what I eat seems to affect how I am feeling, even despite having exercised. For instance if I eat something not considerably healthy after I work out, I am left feeling annoyed and maybe even more stressed than I was before. Although that all may sound silly, I found an article on why and how food can affect your stress levels here!
I am not big into running, but when I am really stressed and do not know how else to cope with it, running is my only solution. Also after reading more into exercise and stress, exams are one of the most stressful part of a college students life. It has been shown that if you walk or run for 20 minutes before a test, you are more likely to score higher. Exercise releases chemicals within your brain which allow you to think and absorb information at a quicker rate. Your brain is shown to be more active and alert after you take a walk or run, rather than just sitting down before you go to take an exam. I was unaware of this, so I will no longer take the bus to class on test days. You are so right when you say all you need is a little motivation, and relieving my stress is motivation enough!
Here is an article that you might find interesting correlating exercise before exams: http://www.varsitytutors.com/blog/exercise+before+tests