Using Fitness to Unwind
Absolutely everyone is exposed to stress, but we all handle it in different ways. Unfortunately, most people find unhealthy ways to cope with their stress. Emotional eating, tobacco use and excessive drinking are all avenues people use to handle stress, whether it is from work, relationship troubles or countless other problems.
If you are not careful, stress can seriously derail your efforts to look and feel younger. Your anti-aging doctor in Rochester Hills can help you develop tools to overcome stress as you follow a healthy lifestyle. One of these healthy strategies is exercise.
Aerobic Exercises Reduce Stress Levels
There is much more to a cardio workout than the buckets of sweat you’ll produce after a run. Aerobic exercises are actually proven to benefit your mental health, as well as your physical health. Part of the reason for this is that aerobic exercise produces endorphins, hormones that are known to boost mood and essentially increase happiness.
Endorphins are actually responsible for the famed “runner’s high,” the euphoric sensation you feel after an intense run. This rush of endorphins is known to dissipate stress, working together with the physical effects of running that improve heart health and blood circulation on their own, taking a trifold approach to stress busting.
You don’t need to go for a run to experience this type of endorphin boost. Other types of cardiovascular activity include:
- Swimming
- Walking
- Bicycling
- Ice skating
- Dancing
- Kickboxing
Exercising every day will predispose your body to handle stress better. That means your morning workout can actually help you power through the day with better mental energy. Exercise can also help you relieve stress in the moment. When you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, depressed or just generally frustrated, remove yourself from the situation and go for a brief walk. Getting a quick release of endorphins and separating yourself from the situation you are in can help you to gain new perspective as you find healthy ways to cope with your stress.
Stress can stifle anti-aging efforts and even lead to worry lines and fatigue. Before reaching for a snack to calm those nerves, try going for a walk. It is a better plan for anti-aging therapy, and will likely soothe your stress better too.