Are you feeling sluggish, anxious, and stressed out? The remedy can
be simple – exercise! Research tells
us that exercise brings a more satisfied lifestyle. Researchers from Penn State
University found that people’s daily physical activity is directly related to
people’s satisfaction with life.
David Conroy, professor of kinesiology at the university said,
“Shifts in depression, anxiety and stress would be expected to influence a
person’s satisfaction with life at any given point in time. In addition,
fatigue can be a barrier to engaging in physical activity, and a high Body Mass
Index associated with being overweight may cause a person to be less satisfied
in a variety of ways.”
“We found that people’s
satisfaction with life was directly impacted by their daily physical activity,”
said Jaclyn Maher, Penn State graduate student in kinesiology. Based on their
findings, the researchers confirmed a greater amount of physical activity can
positively improve satisfaction with life.
Empower yourself daily through exercise. The first step is to get
started. Run on the tread mill, join an aerobics class at the local gym or take
a brisk walk during your lunch break. The key to feeling less stress and
increased self-esteem is to start moving and to exercise!
To stay motivated it is important to remove barriers and be aware
of situations or thoughts that may generate a negative outcome and prevent you
from succeeding. Barriers will drain your energy physically and emotionally,
perpetuating additional stress and feelings of failure. After removing barriers
the next step is to find solutions that will help you move forward.
Common barriers and solutions are:
1. Negatives. Negative thoughts about exercise
will prevent momentum. If a temporary setback occurs, take the time to
re-evaluate your game plan and make adjustments. Solution: Believe in yourself and the
benefits that daily exercise can provide.
2. Defensiveness. Change is difficult. Breaking old habits and starting new ones is
a challenge. Do not be overly critical of yourself when minor setbacks occur. Feel
secure about yourself and be open to ideas to improve your plan. Solution: The buddy system may be the
key to keeping you motivated. Ask your friends and family for their support.
Run with a friend or join the aerobics class your sister is enrolled in. Feel
secure about yourself and be open to ideas to improve your plan.
3. Bullying. Do not bully yourself by putting yourself down if success is not
met immediately. Remember change takes time. Solution: Focus on the positive by keeping a journal about your progress and
highlight the positives. Do not dismiss your accomplishments and take the time
to applaud your successes.
4. A lack of
accountability. Make certain your goal is
attainable and measurable. It is important to be accountable for the outcome of
your effort. Solution: Find ways to make your plan work and do not give up.
5. Limited belief. Negative thoughts about yourself and your progress will prevent
success from occurring. Demeaning thoughts will only make the process more difficult. Solution: To remain motivated and positive place inspiring notes and quotes
on your door or mirror. Review these thoughts prior to exercising. Listen to
upbeat music while exercising and be inspired!
Get out of the dumps and empower yourself through exercise. Shift
your unhealthy feelings of anxiety and stress to healthy feelings of
self-esteem and confidence by engaging in daily physical activity. Avoid
barriers that may prevent forward progression by setting yourself up for
success.
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