Welcome to Day 23 of 31 Days of Mom Mojo – Tackling Time Management.
Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.
—Jim Rohn
Today is normally an audio blog, but unfortunately I have lost my voice as I battle this cold I’ve been trying to shake. So, I’ve quickly turned my post into a written post to keep up with my 31-day series.
We all know about certain benefits of exercise—above all, that it’s good for us. But this isn’t always enough to get us motivated into actually doing it. We talked yesterday about ways to fit exercise into your already busy schedule, so if you’re looking for a little inspiration to get started on creating a new reality for exercise in your routine, here are ten reasons why exercise can improve your life too.
More energy
Although exercise in itself may be tiring, one of the major benefits of exercising is the fact that it will ultimately leave you feeling more energized. Studies have shown that regular exercise helps to reduce fatigue. I know from personal experience that I have more energy and get the “boost” of energy after I have finished any type of physical activity.
Increase your mood
Every time you exercise your body will release endorphins that help to make you feel good. Exercise really will give you a natural high, which is reflected in your attitude and helps us regulate our emotions just a little bit better. I tend to find myself more patient and less susceptible to reacting rather than responding to my family when I have taken time to get some activity during the day.
Improve your health
There are so many health benefits of losing weight, which is one extra benefit of exercising, that it’s impossible to list them all here! By getting fit you’ll reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and much more.
Improve your appearance
If being overweight or not being toned leaves you feeling unhappy about yourself, then losing weight can help you to look and feel better. My self worth is certainly not found in how I look, but I know I tend to feel better about myself when I can look in the mirror and like what I see instead of being frustrated. If you know you look better, it is just common sense that you feel better about yourself.
Play with your kids
It takes a lot of energy to keep up with your kids. By losing weight and getting fit, you’ll be able to run around with them without constantly getting out of breath. This can be one of the most rewarding benefits of exercising—it helps you to enjoy life more.
Sleep better
When you exercise more, you’ll start to find it easier to get a good night’s rest. This adds to the energy boost that you’ll get from exercise in the long term. On the days when I’ve had a workout, I fall asleep quicker and sleep more soundly, which helps me be better prepared for the next day. I tend to stay healthier when my body is in this rhythm.
Increase your strength and stamina
Do you find it hard to go on long walks, even though you want to? Or maybe even carrying shopping bags up the stairs is a struggle? Exercise more and you’ll eventually be able to handle these activities with ease. Start with a little bit of something and increase it a little every day; you will be surprised at how you will increase your level of endurance.
Reduce stress
Exercise can hugely reduce stress levels. If you regularly suffer from stress, or even mental heath issues such as depression and anxiety, regular exercise can help to reduce your symptoms. This is a benefit for both men and women. My level of stress is kept in check when I am in a regular exercise routine and have the opportunity to sweat and get my heart rate up.
A sense of achievement
When you start to exercise and see the improvements you’re making week to week, you’ll really get the feeling that you’ve achieved something worthwhile! You will have feelings of success. Sit down and set a goal to fit exercise in and put yourself on the right track.
Keep your independence later in life
The more you can exercise now, while you’re still able, the more you can reduce the impact of certain health problems later in life. In short, keeping fit and healthy will help you to keep your independence as late into life as possible.
How much will you need to work out to feel the benefits of exercise? That all depends on your current fitness levels. The good news is that just 30 minutes of exercise a day is enough to improve your health drastically. If you are not sure where to start, just get out and start walking or pick up a DVD to inspire you to get moving.
So what are you waiting for?
