Stress tip #5 - Exercise

Love your Brain, Love your Body, Love your Life

Exercise boosts your feel-good endorphins and distracts you from your daily worries; it does your mind & body good.

Besides increasing our overall health and well-being, exercise has some direct stress-busting benefits.

- It pumps up your endorphins (our feel good neurotransmitter) Often called a runner’s high you can get the feeling from any form of exercise.
- Improves blood flow to the brain, bringing additional sugars and oxygen that may be needed when you are thinking intensely.
- When you think hard, the neurons of your brain function more intensely. As they do this, they can build up toxic waste products that can cause foggy thinking. By exercising, you speed the flow of blood through your brain, moving these waste products faster.
- It’s like meditation in motion - After your daily physical exercise, you’ll often find you have forgotten your day’s troubles and concentrated on your body’s movement. You may find that this focus on a single task and the resulting energy and optimism, can help you remain calm and clear in everything you do.
- It improves your mood. Regular exercise increases self-confidence and lowers symptoms of mild depression and anxiety, and it improves sleep.
All this combines for an ease on your stress levels giving you a sense of command over your body and your life.

Too busy and stressed to fit it into your routine?

- 30 min. of good exercise can help boost your daily efficiency by up to 20%; how much time would that save you?
- How much time will you loose being sick or in the hospital.
- Are you less important than your clients, customers or family? If you don’t take care of yourself how do you take care of your responsibilities with business and home?

Here are some tips and suggestions:

Start now with regular exercise!
- Consult your doctor. Begin any new fitness program with a visit to your doctor, especially if you have any medical conditions.
- Walk before your run- Build up your fitness level gradually. Small steps make big strides.
- Do what you love and love what you do. Don’t train for a marathon if you hate running. Any form of exercise or movement can increase your fitness level and reduce stress.
- Put it in your daily schedule; treat it like a very important appointment, because you are a very important appointment!

Stick to it!
- Set some goals; committing to walking 20 min. a day. Whatever gets you going!
- Find a friend to workout or walk with.
- Change up the routine; Try new exercise classes; if you run/walk, incorporate biking, swimming, yoga, pilates. Change it up so you don’t get bored.

Whatever you choose make it a regular routine; it’s your time to unwind and it’s an important part of your day and an important part of your approach to easing stress.

"The consequences of today are determined by the actions of the past. To change your future, alter your decisions today." - Unknown Author

Synergy Training Center; Mayoclinic.com; Mindtools.com;