It may sound counterintuitive, but adding one more thing into your already-busy day could actually help to eliminate your stress. Yes, really. Hear us out.
Make time – if even twenty minutes a day – for exercise.
Exercise has long been proven to be one of the fiercest fighters in your battle against stress. According to the American Psychological Association, not only does exercise benefits your mind and your body, but it is also one of the most immediate stress relievers. Some methods for fighting stress don’t kick in for days, weeks or even months. Exercise, on the other hand, can be instantaneous.
It’s no coincidence that stress is one of the quickest ways to relieve your stress. Physical activity helps your brain produce endorphins – the drugs that make you feel happy. A walk, a quick basketball shoot-off with a friend, or a hike through the woods all produce endorphins and will, in turn, leaving you feeling good.
Exercise can also be a sort of meditation. When we are focused on that hike, or the game of basketball, we aren’t thinking about the meeting we have to prepare for, the bill we have to pay, or the fight that we just had with a significant other. Exercise forces you to focus on something else. We have no time for worrying while we exercise. This results in energy and positivity – consequently improving your mood for when you do have to go back to those stressors.
We encourage you to find a form of exercise that is fun for you – and that you genuinely enjoy. Are you a swimmer? A jogger? Perhaps you want to simply take a walk with a friend? Whatever it may be – do it. We dare you.