Wake up. Shower and eat. Drive to work. Sit at desk. Go home, eat and sit in front of the TV or computer. Sleep, then do it all over again.

How many of us have schedules that keep us…well, physically lazy? For people who are more uptight by nature, driven, and type-A (a.k.a., prone to anxiety and stress), this can be a dangerous pattern.

Here are some of the benefits of exercise, and why you should work it into your daily schedule:

1. Exercise releases endorphins

I know we’ve all heard this before. Unlike losing weight, you don’t have to wait for the instant mood boost that comes from exercising. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of American, after even just five minutes of exercise, mood is enhanced (https://www.adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/managing-anxiety/exercise-stress-and-anxiety).

2. You use excess adrenaline.

Anxious thinking creates the fight-or-flight response in our bodies. If we don’t use that energy up, we can head into a state of panic. Exercising uses that excess adrenaline in a productive way, and lowers its affects.

3. Your sleep is enhanced.

Studies show that you fall asleep easier and more soundly when you’ve exercised during the day.

4. Your confidence increases.

When you take the time to exercise your body, you know you’ve just done something to take care of yourself. You’re sending the message to your brain that you value you. And after consistently exercising, you’ll begin to see the effects on your body, and your self-confidence will increase.

This past Friday night, I hadn’t had a chance to exercise during the day. My mantra is “something is better than nothing,” so I decided to walk around the block in our neighborhood one time (which is about ten minutes). My dad was feeling pretty blue, he had some stressors that were getting to him and he couldn’t seem to snap himself out of his mood. I told him he should come with me, and he reluctantly decided to go to keep me company. Half way around the block, he started to feel better, and started saying how good it felt to be outside and moving around. By the end, he was smiling and saying how glad he was that I made him go. His mind was clearer and he said his bad mood was lifting.

Try going one week just exercising for at least ten minutes a day. See what a difference it makes in your mood. I guarantee you will notice.

Until next time,

Jacklyn