One of the most productive ways to relive your stress is to burn it off through exercising along with some calories.
Getting started with exercising is always the hardest part. It can seem more like a chore than a hobby. Once exercising becomes a part of your daily routine, it will become a lot easier and be a lot more fun. Its so easy to find excuses to not go to the gym or to take a cheat day. But the more you stick with it, the more you will learn to enjoy exercising. There are so many forms of exercise, so find something that you enjoy. You could always exercise with a friend. Set personal goals and work towards them together. You can then encourage each other then to stick with your goal.
Exercise reduces amounts of stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, and stimulates amounts of endorphins. An overall decrease in adrenaline will keep your body and mind more relaxed. Endorphins are responsible for reducing the perception of pain. They lead to overall happiness, modulation of appetite, release of sex hormones, and enhancement of the immune response. People that are generally happier are typically less stressed. A decrease in endorphins can also improve your sleep quality and quantity, which as I talked about last week, can decrease your stress as well!
When I'm stressed, I like going to the gym and blowing off my steam on the elliptical. I usually run harder and for longer periods of time than when I'm relaxed. I can take my anger and frustration out on the pedals and handles rather than other people. I feel like kickboxing would be a good outlet for me. Unfortunately, I don't have the money for that as a teenager about to go to college.
As you lose weight and/or gain muscle through exercising, your self confidence and self image will improve. You will feel more comfortable in your own skin and proud of who you are. In today's world, one of the biggest causes of stress is caused by our own thoughts. We judge ourselves and envy what others have or look like. Social media is a huge cause of that. Rather than sitting around looking at pictures on Instagram wishing you looked like other people. You could get up, get active, and start working on being the best version of yourself. Exercise is a healthy way to lose weight as well as stress.
Challenge: try to spend at least half an hour each day this week doing physical activity. This could be going on a hike with friends, swimming in a pool, lifting weights at the gym, or just going on a run. You don't need to exercise a bunch in order to see results. Even just a little bit each day can contribute to reducing stress levels. Reflect back at the end of the week and see if you have been more energized, happy, and less stressed.