As great as it would be to live a life without any type of stress, it just doesn’t seem possible anymore. As soon as one source of stress seemingly fades away, another always seems to rear its ugly head.
Though it’s not always possible to remove yourself from the sources of your stress, there are several steps you can take to limit the effect that your stress has on your life. One of the best methods of reducing the amount of stress in your life is exercise!
Here are five ways that exercise can help lower the impact that stress is currently having on your life!
Exercise Releases Endorphins
When you participate in physical activity, your brain naturally releases the “feel-good hormones” known as endorphins. According to the Mayo Clinic, the release of endorphins from your brain during exercise naturally improves your mood and can also help to reduce physical pain within the body.
Endorphins are so powerful that the effects that they can cause in the brain are comparable to those of hardcore drugs like morphine. That explains why the effects of endorphins are also referred to as a “runners high.”
Eating healthy after exercise is also key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. One natural remedy many are turning to is enjoying a glass of tart cherry juice to their post workout routine. One of glass of Michigan-grown, Montmorency tart cherry juice delivers the juice of 100 fresh cherries. In addition, the ruby-red drink is packed full of anti-inflammatory compounds, too.
The presence of anthocyanins in a daily glass of cherry juice helps to reduce joint and muscle pain naturally. If you experience sore muscles or joints after a training session considering adding tart cherry juice to your after workout routine.
Exercise Shifts Your Focus Elsewhere
Sometimes the best way to relieve the stress that you’re currently experiencing in your life is to focus your attention elsewhere. When you’re not actively thinking about the stress, it’s less likely to impact you both emotionally and physically.
By participating in some type of physical activity that you enjoy, you’ll be able to take your mind off of your current stressors and focus on the workout you’re doing. When you intentionally place a focus on your exercise performance, you’ll be more successful in your workout while simultaneously being less stressed.
Exercise Helps to Reduce Anxiety
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, the natural endorphins and other psychological and physiological effects that occur during exercise can help to promote an anti-anxiety effect. In addition to having less anxiety, you’ll also be able to improve your mood in general.
When you exercise and reduce the amount of anxiety that you’re experiencing throughout your day, you’ll also be more likely to get a good night’s sleep at the end of the night. With better sleep, you’ll have better focus and less stress come the next morning.
Exercise Can Improve Your Mood
When you consider the release of the endorphins that occur during exercise, you’ll understand why exercise can help to boost your mood, even when the stress in your life seems unbearable. Mood improvement will allow you to focus on the positive aspects of your life and reduce the attention you give to the stress you’re experiencing.
One of the greatest methods of reducing stress is simply not letting it bother you, which is obviously easier said than done. Yet, a positive attitude encouraged by exercise can help to reduce the effects of stress.
Exercise Burns Energy
When you’re exercising, you’re burning calories, but you’re also helping to burn off whatever energy your body has left over from the day. This can help to physically tire you out and reduce the mental stress that you’re experiencing.
Most importantly, having less energy means you’ll be more likely to be able to fall asleep at night. If chronic stress frequently keeps you up at night, exercise might be the perfect way to improve your sleep quality and your fitness.
Final Thoughts
Exercise isn’t just great for the physical body. It also has the potential to completely overhaul the functioning of your brain to boost your mood and reduce the stress that you’re experiencing in your daily life. Exercise won’t entirely remove your stress, but it’ll make it much easier to deal with.
