Exercise Shouldn’t Cause Anxiety
For many of us, the idea of exercising regularly can be unsettling. But being physically active doesn’t mean you have to sweat it out for hours at the gym or run a half marathon. It’s really about moving your body more; the health benefits will follow.
Finding ways to make physical activity fun helps keep you motivated. And staying motivated shifts actions to longstanding habits that lead to lifestyle changes.
Here are some ideas to get you started.
- Pick an activity you enjoy. You’ll be much more likely to stick with it. For example, hiking, swimming, walking, tennis, pickleball or a stretching class.
- Find a workout buddy. It’s always more fun to exercise with a partner. It will also make the time pass faster and give you a chance to connect and destress. And research shows that more feel-good hormones called endorphins are released when people work out together.
- View exercise as a reward. Life gets busy. Setting aside time to be active can be a great way to relieve stress after a hard day’s work. It can also leave you feeling more energized and balanced.
- Be creative and try something new. There are lots of different exercise classes from high intensity interval training, water aerobics and Zumba to barre, cycling and even hula-hooping. Many apps offer an array of classes that you can participate in from home too.
- Turn up the tunes. Music can be a great motivator and distraction. Create a playlist of your favorite upbeat songs to keep you going.
- Exercise around the house. Gardening, mowing the lawn and housework can burn just as many calories as walking and other exercises. Plus, you’ll be able to mark things of your to-do list.
- Gamify your workout. There are lots of video and virtual reality games that can make fitness fun and even add a little healthy competition.
- Move for a cause. There are lots of charity run/walks and other events you can join to get exercise while helping to raise money for a good cause. And research shows that giving back can improve your mental health as well.
