Exercise and stress: Get moving to manage stress
Michael Greer
Perfectly Imperfect. Pursuing a life of lasting impact and fewer regrets.
Exercise improves your overall health, sense of well-being, and has some direct stress-busting benefits.
Everyone responds to stress in different ways, however we all have one thing in common: Regular exercise reduces the harmful effects of stress.
How much exercise is needed to manage stress?
Absent of being sick or injured, you should exercise on average 5 days a week - 30 minutes at a time. This does not have to be all at one time, especially for people who want to get in some exercise while at work which can help combat stress throughout the day.
If you new or coming back to exercise, break it up into small manageable segments and you can add time and intensity as you progress.
The key is to build the habit of regular exercise into your day. There are many physical activities such as yoga, group exercise, dog walking, that can have a positive impact on reducing your stress levels.
Research supports the idea that exercise can improve the way the body handles stress, and it can provide a time-out from stressors.
However, it is important to remember that exercise is only one component of a stress management Strategy, and there are situations that require the assistance of a qualified health care provider.
What's your stress strategy? Absent of being intentional and having strategies in place, the culminating effects of unchecked stress impacts not only our lives but the lives of those we love as well.