How does exercise help with stress management?

Exercise has a lot of influence on your stress levels. In fact, a study of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health shows that walking for an hour or running for 15 minutes a day may reduce the risk of major depression by 26%. In addition, over 70% of physically active individuals report better sleep. You know you cannot be performing at your peak level and maintaining a positive mindset if you’re stressed and tired. Positive mindset is extremely vital to success.

Benefits of Physical Activity

It has been proven by numerous studies that exercise has a positive impact on the person’s physical and brain health, including the following:

• Reduced risk of depression

• Improved cognitive functions and academic performance

• Reduced short-term anxiety

• Reduced long-term anxiety, both for people with and without anxiety disorders

• Improved sleep quality

• Reduced risk of developing certain types of cancers, such as lung cancer, kidney cancer, breast cancer, and others. 

• Reduces risk of heart disease and certain other diseases

• Exercise increase the levels of endorphins, which are known to provide a sense of well-being and increased resistance to pain 

Shifting your focus

Exercise makes you focus more on the outside world and how your body interacts with it, as well as on your physical person. You get out of your head, and can forget the day’s frustration and focus on your body’s movement. The focus on a single activity makes the person calmer and less anxious. In addition, during exercise you experience the physical effects of stress, such as heavier breathing and flushed skin, and your body learns to respond to stress in a healthy way.

What kind of exercise?

The right stress-reducing exercise depends on the person: for someone, taking a walk is relaxing, while others feel that walking makes room for overthinking. Here are some examples of exercise types to try: 

• Swimming: the cool water might relax you

• Running: the pumping steps might make you realize you can get over whatever 

• Cardio: you'd be too busy to think

• Yoga: outer balance might help you find inner balance

• Basketball: focus on the aiming, not your thoughts

• Tennis: smash the balls with as much force as you can

• Soccer: release your pent up tension by kicking as hard as you can

A thing to note when choosing the right exercise is that more vigorous exercise will result in a greater rush of endorphins and therefore bring larger effects of single-minded focus and relaxation afterwards.

Conclusion: 

Exercise has a lot of benefits in addition to reducing your stress levels. You can do any type of exercise and it will be beneficial to your brain and body. So go find something you really love and release some stress.