Work Out Your Stress

"Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths"

-Etty Hillesum

WEBSITE: If stress has you reaching for the ice cream, at least make it some that won't kill the waist line! http://www.womenshealthmag.com/nutrition/low-cal-icy-treats?cm_mmc=ETNTNL-_-2010_09_21-_-HTML-_-1

With my first year of teaching there are many days I leave school feeling exactly like this. As much as I love my job, stress is a daily occurrence and I am sure many of you feel the same! As mentioned in the last post, healthy stress eating has its positive effects but should not be the only go-to option. Exercise is an absolutely fantastic way to help relax and relieve some of that pent up energy.

What exactly does getting that heart rate up do for your anxiety?

1. It is both physically and mentally strengthening which will prepare you for the harsh effects stress can have on your body

2. Stress causes tightness in the body and exercising can lengthen and stretch this out

3. Exercising is such a great way to get your mind on something else and forget the craziness of life

4. According to Reece Witherspoon, "Exercise gives you endorphins and endorphins make you happy..." These endorphins cause a calming effect (known as the 'runner's high')

5. Exercise increases oxygen output

Stretching

Make this a daily routine and see huge benefits! Focus on stretching before and after physical activity, but really thinking about stretching out your muscles throughout the day. From the moment you get out of bed until you go to sleep, stretching can relax the muscles.

Physical Exercise

Make it something you enjoy doing so that you really can get away from the anxiety. Relax, get to the gym or outside and really let the adrenaline get your body working

-Take a walk: Just get out of the situation and clear your head with a brisk walk

-Outdoor Intervals: Get the heart pumping while you enjoy the sunshine

-Bootcamp Style: Short and sweet and my favorite way to blow off steam. A truly challenging workout that allows a complete workout for my entire body. The moves are simple and so you don't have to stress out your mind any more than needed.

-Sprints: Get out and give a short, hard push. Many people need to work off stress with complete and total exhaustion. So give it all you've got, recover and push again.

-Hit: I know so many people who absolutely love a kickboxing class or 30 minutes with the punching bag to work off a rough day. It's better to hit a punching bag than to put a hole through the wall!

Yoga

True relaxation and complete calming of each muscle from head to toe. Learning to breath and getting your mind off the situations that are bringing you down.

Find your best work out for stress. If a long day makes you want to come home and clean something then work up a sweat scrubbing the floors (and if you're really stressed you are always welcome to come do my apartment to help blow off steam!) Stress is a part of life but can take a huge toll on your body. Find some techniques that are effective for your own lifestyle and start working on them the next time life happens!

Megan