Well, as I continue on, as predicted Monday was a wash. I knew there were going to be tough days and I am trying to avoid the excuses but its a reality and its part of the every day life of most Americans. Tuesday was a game day for us, so I was able to get a quick mile run in (with the dog of course, still slowing me down slightly) and still have time before the game. The hardest days seem to be when I have practice and my brother has a game, the other 3 days of the week, I should have no excuse.
With the crazy schedule I follow each day, its easy to become stressed. Whether its a bad day of work or lack of sleep without the opportunity to catch up, its a part of life. There is no better way to relieve that tension and stress than exercise.
"Being active can boost your feel-good endorphins and distract you from daily worries." -mayo clinic staff
Aside from that, our mind wanders as we exercise and it takes the focus off the things that are stressing us out. Its a relief from reality. When we are busy, its easy to take exercise out of the day plan to give ourselves extra breathing room, but is this really helping? This is always my reasoning, something along the lines of "I'm exhausted", "I just need to sit", "I don't have time to shower before the game if I exercise". Excuses are our biggest enemies.
Its been proven that exercise ties into stress relief, it puts a little more energy in our step each day, makes us feel good and proud of ourselves, better yet, it lightens our mood. To make our relief from stress even more the worthwhile. Music while we exercise can be a huge asset to us. In my next blog, I will talk about motivational music that increases are exercise.
Examples of Exercises that Relieve Stress:
Running
Boxing
Martial Arts
Weight Training
Yoga
*These are just a few, all types of exercise are beneficial as forms of stress relief*
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise-and-stress/SR00036
I also agree that excuses are our biggest enemies and I am great at having them. Sometimes I say to myself that I played hard at school with my students, and that can be my exercise for the day. Though I did do that, it really didn't get my heart rate up that much. I am moving but it isn't the same as a good sustained cardio workout or some weights. I try to keep the excuses out of my life, but they have a way of creeping in.
ReplyDeleteI use that excuse some times too, I played with the students but in reality, I didn't play enough to get a workout that I am proud of or where my heart rate was really working.
DeleteI actually used the excuse that I was up and cleaning my house a entire day and that I didn't have to exercise on the elliptical because I was up walking all around the house and up and down stairs, later that day I felt guilty but oh well.
ReplyDeleteI try not to make excuses but I fail at that.
I want to hear that you did some Zumba, Steph :)
ReplyDeleteIve actually never tried Zumba Ali, I am not so coordinated when it comes to dancing so I guess you could say I am scared to try!
ReplyDeleteAnyone can do it - just be ready to have fun and laugh! Come to one of my classes :)
DeleteWhen I was in Undergrad, before a big exam I would always go for a run in morning I don't know how much it helped me on the test. But I was always much more relaxed.
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