Exercise is therapy

We all know that exercise is important, but unfortunately less than 25% of adults in the U.S. get the recommended amount each week.  As a health care provider, I commonly hear that people don’t have time for exercise or simply don’t enjoy it or feel motivated to do it.  Therefore, despite knowing the health benefits of regular exercise, they continue to live a fairly inactive lifestyle.  

Since most of us are short on time and a lot of people just don’t enjoy exercising, we need to look at exercise in a different way.  Moving our bodies is not only good for our physical health, but essential for our mental well-being.  Exercise can significantly help with managing stress, anxiety, and depression.  

Don’t just think of exercise as “working out,” but look at exercise as THERAPY.  When I exercise, it is “ME TIME.”  It is time away to think, listen to a good audiobook, motivational podcast or uplifting music; it’s time in nature; it’s an instant mood lifter and energy booster.  We can all use this kind of therapy in our lives.  In this fast-paced world with busyness and stress, we need to create this time for ourselves every single day.  Don’t look at it as one more thing to do, but as valuable time to work on yourself.  Make it a priority.  We can’t pour from an empty cup.  We need to refuel and renew; we need to fill up so we can spill out!  

Exercise can be as simple as lacing up your shoes, turning on a podcast or some music, and walking or running for 30 minutes every day.  It can be as simple as riding a stationary bike in your living room while watching your favorite TV show.  Or it can be going to your favorite gym, joining a cross-fit community, or training with some friends to run a half-marathon.  Sometimes having accountability partners can be helpful.  A group of ladies in my neighborhood meet every single morning at 6am and walk 2-3 miles.  They chat for an hour while walking their dogs, making it a fun activity. 

Don’t have time?  You have to create time!  Sometimes that means waking up an hour earlier or doing it during your lunch break.  Make it fun, track your progress, consume more podcasts and audiobooks, sign up for a local race!  When you find a way to enjoy it, you’ll look forward to doing it.  If you have a big enough reason to wake up early in the morning, you’ll jump out of bed instead of snoozing.  When you make it a habit, you’ll keep doing it every single day.  

Have a great week! ~ Allison