Reducing Stress

Turn that TV or computer off! Get up, out and about – for a walk, for a play in the park, clean the home, have a dance to some music…

Get the support of your family - organize family outings that require physical activity, go for nightly walks.

Get around to doing those dishes in the sink – the upside to chores is that they are physical activities.

Exercising socially can spur us on and help increase the intensity of our workout over time, encouraging us to run that little bit further, stay on the cross-trainer for an extra ten minutes, swim another five lengths, work through the sweat, breathlessness and stitch.

Who could you train with?

Although the benefits of each piece of exercise we take are instantly available - such as increased calmness, mood and energy - having other goals can also help, especially on the odd occasion we don’t feel like going for that walk or run.

Initially it could be a small, yet progressive, number of training sessions / walks or runs / group activities / relaxation exercises each week. If, at the moment i was managing one ’session’ a week, i might target two a week. 

In the longer term, i might target increasing the distance or times i run for, aim to lose a little weight or to start playing a sport again. I might want to give up smoking (and know that the fitter i get and the healthier i feel, the more likely it is i will do this).

Some people enjoy the focus of training for a specific event or race. This could also give you the opportunity to raise money for a good cause that’s close to your heart.

Try writing down what your goals are / might be on a notepad. You could, perhaps, pick one out and write it again somewhere visible (on your diary, on your calendar, in your gymbag). 

However many, and however big, your goals are – start off slowly and build up the amount and intensity of your training gradually. And don’t forget the immediate power of each piece of exercise you take on your calmness, mood and energy.