๐Today was a gorgeous autumn morning, so I headed out for a quick run after biking my kids to school
๐It's hard to get motivated sometimes on cold days, but I love the endorphins you get, it sets the mood for the rest of my day!!
๐Exercise is an incredible tool for managing stress, you can literally feel the stress levels drop within minutes ๐
๐It works several ways :
๐ Reducing adrenaline and cortisol levels (stress hormones)
๐ Boosting endorphins (feel good hormones ie the runners high)
๐ Increasing the size of your hippocampus (part of your brain involved in regulating emotions)
๐Stimulates brain growth/connections
๐Reducing inflammation
๐It can also work as a form of meditation /mindfulness - the simple act of movement and focusing on breath /steps and deep breathing helps with nervous system regulation
๐Regular excerise improves Vagus nerve function which helps with stress along with blood pressure /heart function (ie why resting rate and blood pressure improves with fitness)
๐Exercise in nature has a bonus effect, as simply being in nature causes cortisol and stress levels to drop
๐People who exercise at least 150min/week are 30% less likely to experience depression/anxiety (this effect even occurs in kids)!! Even 10min/day has been shown to improve brain function
๐If you don't currently exercise much, try setting a goal for 10-15min/day of an exercise you enjoy, and see how you feel after 2 weeks. Exercise often has a ripple effect - starting small leads to great gains ๐
https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/a-20-minute-nature-break-relieves-stress
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/exercising-to-relax#:~:text=Exercise%20reduces%20levels%20of%20the,natural%20painkillers%20and%20mood%20elevators.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-exercise-affects-your-brain/
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