Manage Stress with Exercise

We all know that exercise is good for us, but it’s very easy to think that we are too busy or too stressed to fit it into our hectic schedules. But it’s the exercise that can help to reduce the stress in other aspects of our lives.

Exercise floods your body with endorphins, these are the brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters. Although this phenomenon is often referred to as a runner’s high, any intense activity that gets your heart pumping, can have a similar effect.

Exercise reduces negative characteristics of stress, by imitating its effects, such as the flight or fight response. It teaches your body and its systems to work together and actually deal with the negative stressors more effectively. This can also lead to positive effects in your body—including your cardiovascular, digestive, and immune systems—by helping protect your body from the harmful effects of stress.

Regular exercise can increase self-confidence, enhance your mood, help you relax, increase your sleep, and lower symptoms of mild depression and anxiety. All these exercise benefits can ease your stress levels and give you a sense of command over your body and your life. There’s no perfect way to exercise, just move your body, feel good, and tackle your day with a little less stress weighing you down.