In today’s hectic society, the need to find ways to de-stress and take care of yourself is more important than ever.
Stress and anxiety are a regular feature in the lives of many people, as they struggle to find balance in this fast-paced world.
When you are perpetually busy, it can be hard to break free and find ways to counteract stress and anxiety. One method that many people use to improve their mental and physical well-being is exercise.
The connection between well-being and exercise is a strong one. However if, like me, you are someone that hates sport, you may shy away from using exercise to boost your well-being.
Luckily, there are lots of ways to bring more activity into your life and boost your well-being!
How Does Physical Activity Improve Wellbeing?
It is believed that exercise improves wellbeing in a variety of ways.
One of the main benefits of exercise is the release of feel-good hormones, which are known as endorphins.
Exercising is also great for focusing your attention on what your body is doing.
This can stop you from getting caught up in thought patterns going round in your head, and feelings of stress or anxiety.
Easy Does It
If you are not someone that typically spends hours at the gym, then you may want to take things easier to begin with.
The NHS recommends that adults get 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise each week.
The 150 hours could be made up by walking at a faster pace, or cycling.
It is not necessary to put yourself under more stress by pushing yourself too far, too fast.
You don’t need to start training for a marathon.
Try Something New
Are you looking to add more variety to your exercise regime?
Keeping your routine varied could help to make it more interesting, and therefore, easier to maintain.
Trying out forms of exercise that you have never used before could help you to do this.
Why not try aqua aerobics if you usually only exercise on dry land? Or, a dance class if you typically stick with the gym. Battle ropes are also an increasingly popular form of exercise that you might want to try. You can find out more about how they work and battle rope benefits here.
Find an Activity That You Love
Making physical activity something that you look forward to as a well-being boost, rather than simply something else that’s added to your to-do list is essential.
Is there a sport or activity that you have always wanted to try, such as ballroom dancing, or ice skating?
Being active doesn’t have to be hard work; it can simply be about finding an interest that you love with the added bonus of physical activity.
For an even bigger well-being boost, you could take up a team sport, or join a club, that way you will also get to make new friends too.
Don’t forget that you should always consult your doctor before starting a new exercise regime.
Do you have a favourite exercise to boost your wellbeing?