DOWNTIME- MENTAL OR PHYSICAL?
Life can be hectic…. Work, kids, running a household, studying, trying to keep a social life etc. It’s enough to make you want to go and lay on beach somewhere. But is that REALLY what we need?
The majority of our stress is mental, not physical.
The exhaustion is real from sitting at a desk all day, stress, driving home in traffic, catching up with friends, helping kids with homework or doing life admin. Our minds can burn out, even though our bodies haven’t really moved much at all.The best way to combat mental fatigue, is to get physical. Here are 7 reasons why:
1. Stress Buster
When you are stressed, your body naturally tenses. This can manifest in all kinds of symptoms such as shoulder/neck pain, jaw clenching, internal dysfunction, headaches, insomnia….. the list goes on. Exercise is the best way to break this vicious cycle between body and the mind. As well as releasing endorphins, exercise naturally relaxes the tenseness by stretching out and getting blood and oxygen moving around your muscles.
2. Sharper Memory and Thinking
The same endorphins released while exercising will also help you sharpen your concentration. Exercise stimulates the growth of new brain cells and helps with memory function.
3. More Energy
You gotta expend energy to get energy! The more physical you are on a regular basis, the more energy you will have. Increasing your heart rate in the morning is a really good way to get the blood pumping around your body (including your brain) and rid you of the sluggish feeling that can only normally be fixed with coffee!
4. Mental Shift
When you are exercising, you mind tends to shift to what you are doing, how it makes you feel, where in your body you can feel it, and how you are executing the movement. It is a great way to ‘shift’ your concentration temporarily and give your mental state a break- which in turn, increases clarity.
5. Better Sleep
When we are under mental and emotional stress, it often disrupts our sleep. When we are sleep deprived, it creates extra stress. It is a vicious cycle and one often underestimated when it comes to mental/emotional stability. Exercise is proven to regulate sleep patterns and get better quality sleep.
6. Prevent Cognitive Decline
As we get older, our brains get a little hazy. Degenerative diseases like Alzheimers can kill off brain cells, and it has been proven that exercise boosts the chemicals in the brain that support and prevent degeneration of the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning.
7. Improve Self Confidence
Regardless of weight or size, the happy chemicals that are released when you exercise undoubtedly lift your mood. Plus if you do it regularly, you’ll start to see some physical changes….. your fitness will improve, and you might even notice some positive physical changes! Always a great mood booster
If you can combine exercise, fresh air, and some vitamin D- this is undoubtedly the best combination of all time for a mental health boost! Exercising outdoors is the most beneficial- rain, hail or shine, getting fresh air into your lungs and natural light will do wonders for your mood.
So forget lazing on the beach for now- come on an adventure with us and watch the positive changes take place!!
