|
|
Physical Exercise
No book on stress management would be complete without mentioning the benefits of physical exercise. Healthy exercise is one of the finest stress "relievers," as opposed to stress "eliminators," i.e., it doesn't do much to alleviate the source of the stress, but it goes a long way in alleviating some of the symptoms.
We accumulate a lot more stress than we can effectively process due to our compacted schedules and demanding lifestyles — and a scanty "toolbox" doesn't help the situation either! A vigorous exercise program performed properly can take care of the impact of many hidden stresses. [Note: It is always important to get medical advice prior to making sudden and dramatic changes in exercise regimens.]
Five reasons why exercise is helpful:
- You actually force the muscular tissues in which you store unresolved stress to surrender their tense state by making them move, thereby improving oxygenation and circulation in those areas.
- You remove yourself from the source of your stress while performing exercise: A mini-vacation!
- Your mind is free from preoccupying responsibilities to come up with creative solutions to some of your problems.
- As your exercise program takes hold, your self-image, confidence, and determination improve.
- You will have more energy, a healthier appetite, a better sex life, sleep better and find it easier to maintain your ideal weight.
So, get going!
Here are just a few great forms of exercise:
- Swimming
- Hiking
- Tennis
- Biking
- Racquetball
- Dance
- Walking
- Skating
- Jogging
- Aerobics
- Skiing
- Calisthenics
- Weightlifting
- Surfing
- Rollerblading
Not meeting my Guideline A below and therefore deliberately not mentioned in the above list:
- Darts
- Television
- Gardening
- Bowling
- Shopping
- Billiards
- Bingo
- Golf
- Draining the dog
Guidelines for Healthy Exercise
- Work up to at least 30 minutes of sustained exercise with increased heart rate three times weekly on the average. Break a sweat, breathe heavy a little and feel good about that.
- Don't overdo it — we're relieving stress here, not trying to find yet another expression of compulsivity.
- Of course, there is no time for fitness! We must talk priorities, priorities, priorities, my friend! The way of the world is erosion. Without intervention we humans erode as we get older. This is not a fun prospect. If you become too stressed, too sick, or too out of condition you will not have any resources left to do anything with anyway — so, get real and prioritize for exercise!
It does take willingness and effort to break out of your non-productive comfort zone (inertia), but: Consider the consequences of procrastination. There are always consequences for prolonged inactivity, and quite a few of those are nasty. Don't be lulled by the gradualness of the build-up into complacency and/or acclimation to slothfulness. Remember that suicide can be quick, or on the installment plan, but it's still suicide. Love yourself more than this. Remember, if you don't care about you, who will?
Continue...
|
|
