4 Ways Staying Active Relieves Stress
Here’s the scenario: you are stressed. Overworked. Anxiety has taken over your day, week and more – and there seems to be no end or solution in sight.
Except, the answer was staring at you all along: exercise. Anyone who’s worked out consistently (and the keyword here being consistently) realises that it has a terrific effect on not just your physical but also your mental well-being.
Exercise – be it cardio or weights – is literally meditation in motion. It clears your mind, soothes your senses and helps you feel refreshed. So in addition to looking good, you also start feeling good!
But what’s the science behind it, and how does staying active relieve stress?
Read on to learn more…
Releases Endorphins
Physical activity helps release endorphins in your brain – the ‘feel good’ neurotransmitters – which pretty much alter how your brain and body feel. It reduces stress, you feel happier and also more alert. This is one of the reasons why it is highly recommended to work out in the morning, so that your day starts off on a positive note!
Negates Effects of Stress
Stress is nothing but a culmination of your body’s ‘fight or flight’ response. Exercise helps calm your mind down and relieves the body from this very stress. It allows you to be more in control of your emotions, which has an overall positive impact across multiple systems, including cardiovascular, digestive and immune, to name a few.
All of this helps calm your body down too, and negates the harmful effects of stress in both the short and the long run.
Stabilises Your Mood
As mentioned earlier, exercise and emotions are very closely related to each other. Since it helps you relax, you’re happier more often. This helps reduce the symptoms of mild depression and anxiety. But more importantly, since you look good and feel good, you’re much more confident too, which means you’re in a great mood more often than not!
Improves Sleep
Stress directly impacts sleep – we all know that. Exercise reduces stress which helps you get a full night’s restful sleep. Furthermore, since you’re usually exhausted and tired, you fall asleep quicker, ensuring you don’t stay up netflixing or binge eating, all of which have a direct impact on sleep and your health in the long run.
Whether you want to start your fitness journey or get back to it, you will need guidance and help – and my MSF Transformation Plan program will help you with that. Sign up now and get personalised workouts and meal plans and of course, constant motivation and support! Check out the complete details here.
Together, let’s work towards a stress-free, healthy and happy tomorrow.