Get moving to make changes in overall health
EXERCISE AND YOUR WELLBEING: In recognition of Mental Health Month (May), we’ve introduced some topics about physical and mental wellbeing. After all, our overall health has a big impact on our ability to care for our children. Today’s focus is Exercise and Your Wellbeing.
Just like diet and nutrition, exercise plays a major role in your state of wellness. It benefits nearly all aspects of a person’s health. It helps control weight, strengthen bones, strengthen lungs and your circulatory system. What’s more is that exercise increases a variety of chemicals that are good for your brain, like serotonin, which plays a role in appetite, sleep and mood. Or endorphins, which can increase pleasure.
So, during Mental Health Month, Mental Health America has challenged us to make small changes in our daily habits for huge positive changes. How much exercise can you add to your week? It doesn’t have to involve complicated hour-long trips to the gym. A good 10 to 15 minutes of exercise just twice a day will get you the recommended amount of exercise. Our challenge is to make small changes in the right direction. So start slowly; park further away from the door; opt for the staircase; put on your tennis shoes and get in motion.
Here’s 10 ways to sneak exercise into your day:
- Rise and Shine: Stretch your way out of bed and into the shower
- Vary your route: take the stairs; walk the extra distance
- Deskercise: get moving in your chair; tap your foot; use some hand weights
- Lunchercise: walk to lunch; speedwalk your errands
- Hit the watercooler: when appropriate get up and speak to coworker in person rather than via email
- Adopt an after-work hobby: like Frisbee or soccer
- Walk the dog: your pup will thank you and so will your body
- Housercise: you get the idea – vacuum; wash the car; do the yardwork
- TVercise: sure you can squeeze in a workout here. Grab those dumbbells
- Find a Friend: don’t default to dinner and the movies; propose something active like skating, ping pong, bowling or a night out dancing.
For additional ways to encourage your child to be physically active, read our blog:
For more about Mental Health America’s challenge, visit their site at Mental Health America.
https://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/fitness-4mind4body-exercise
