Why exercise makes you happy. I believe that regular exercise will make you a happier person. I don’t mean torturing yourself with workouts that you hate, I mean finding an enjoyable activity that allows you to clear your mind, work up a bit of a sweat and use your muscles in a challenging way.
I’ve had many moments in my life where I couldn’t quite find myself and had very little motivation to push forward. Even though it was extremely difficult to bring myself to get moving, I did and you know what? I always felt better. After a few (sometimes very painful) minutes, my brain would begin to clear and I could start to work out my problems in a more productive way. Although it can be very tempting to hibernate, it’s so much better to get up and move.
WHY EXERCISE MAKES YOU HAPPY
Improved Mood. It’s not just about taking the time to care for yourself, which in itself would be a good enough reason to move, but there is a chemical reason as well. Basically, when you start working out your body recognizes it as stress so it begins to release chemicals like endorphins and dopamine into your brain which minimize the pain of working out and make you feel happier. Yes, this an extremely simplified way of explaining the process, but you get the general idea.
Decreased Stress and Anxiety. It really only takes a few minutes for the effects of exercise to start taking effect, so even if you don’t have a lot of time, it’s no problem. This is about you being happy, we will worry about the other health benefits later.
Prepares You For Tough Situations. Since you are less stressed when exercising regularly and you are in a better mood, chances are that you’ll be able to approach new or annoying situations in a calmer way.
Makes You Stronger. Sure this might sound completely obvious, but just think how that can make every single day a little bit better. Taking a walk will be easier, as will running up a flight of stairs or carrying heavy groceries or even shovelling snow. How much better would life be if every day activities didn’t impede the lifestyle you want?
Still don’t believe me? Then read my article WHY IS EXERCISE SO IMPORTANT it covers all the basics including the obvious question, Do I Really Need To Workout? I also cover the stages of what happens if you don’t workout (hint, it’s not pretty).
Alright, so you might be saying that exercise just isn’t for you and that you hate it, so why bother. Well I’m one step ahead of you (yup, I’m determined that everyone deserves to be happy) if that’s how you are feeling then this is for you, EVERYONE CAN LEARN TO LOVE EXERCISE.
Unless you are already working out regularly (and yeah, that includes any physical activity and not just the gym) then start slow and accustomed to including specific exercises in your daily routine.
If you have a more sedentary job or find that you spend lots of time commuting, then this is for you, BEST EXERCISES FOR A DESK JOB.
If you find that you are on your feet all day and completely exhausted when it’s time to clock out, then this is for you, BEST EXERCISES IF YOU ARE ON YOUR FEET ALL DAY.
Remember that sometimes working out isn’t about losing weight or competing in something, sometimes it’s just about getting your body moving so that you can feel better overall. Take baby steps, get off the couch and start moving today.
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