There is a good reason why a lot of people sing praises about exercise. In fact, if you really think about it, there’s not just one reason, but a lot of them. For starters, the health benefits of exercise, if listed, would probably be enough to create an entire book. It generally helps strengthen the body and improves one’s level of day-to-day functioning. It is also a major and critical component of any weight loss and weight management program. It is even used as a technique to ward off stress and boost one’s mood. So what role does exercise play in relieving one’s stress? Check out the information below.
The Factors that Create Stress
Stress is a normal part of life. Some experience it as soon as they wake up and realize that it’s Monday morning and that they need to get their butts to work. A lot feel it whenever they have deadlines to chase or have major examinations or presentations to prepare for. Some even get paralyzed with stress while merely sitting inside the car amidst a major traffic jam. The point is, there are plenty of things that may cause someone to feel stressed, whether internal or external. These stress-causing factors are everywhere and sometimes can’t be avoided. Thus, the best thing to do about it is to readjust one’s thinking and adopt the techniques that enable one to deal with the anxiety and stress in a much better way than blowing up at innocent bystanders.
Why Exercise is an Effective Stress Buster
When one feels stressed, the levels of certain substances, such as norepinephrine and cortisol, spike up. If these stress hormones stay elevated in the body, they can give rise to increased vigilance, irritability, and even lead to certain stress-associated afflictions. Exercise works in such a way that burns away these stress hormones, thereby reducing the mental, emotional, and physical effects of these substances.
Another reason why exercise can be an effective stress reliever is that the activity causes the release of endorphins into your blood. These endorphins are much like morphine in that they allow a person to feel elated or “high”, but without the potential harmful effects that morphine has. Exercise also releases other “feel good” substances such as serotonin and dopamine. With all these chemicals running through your veins, you’ll be able to find some relief from the stress you’re feeling.
Although this next reason may seem shallow, a number of people will benefit greatly from the confidence boost that can be derived from having a fit and great-looking body from exercise. If you are like most people, then you probably have a few insecurities about how your body looks like, and these insecurities may lead to poor self-image and stress. Once you work on your body and get active, you’ll find these insecurities (and the stress they cause) melting away into nothing.
Lastly, engaging in exercise just takes your mind off whatever it is that is bothering you at the moment. As you huff and puff while completing your daily exercise regimen, you’ll discover that the mental clutter is no longer there and you’re better able to put things into perspective. Not only will you get a gorgeous body out of exercising, you’ll also have a serene and clear mind.
Exercise is a perfect solution to stress. Granted, you can’t eliminate all sources of the unpleasant feeling, but by exercising, you become the master of stress, not its slave.
Author Bio:
My name is TK and I am the owner of Fitz101. Although not a gym rat by any stretch of the imagination, I am dedicated to treating my body well by exercising regularly and staying fit. To stay fit and relieve stress, I regularly do High Intensity Interval Training as well as Mixed Martial Arts.