Stress and Exercise

In a 2017 survey, the American Psychological Association reviewed how Americans experience their stress. Three out of four Americans experiencing stress, have reported symptoms of lying awake at night, feeling anxious, anger, irritability or fatigue. Unfortunately, the stress of your daily life may still exist, but finding an outlet is important. Stress management is an important factor in a healthy lifestyle. The good news is, exercise is a stress reliever. You still may live in a stressed-out nation, but you can be one of the Americans who has found exercise as a distraction from the stressful day.

Five Ways Exercise Relieves Stress

1. Exercise Improves Sleep: As listed above, lying awake at night is a common way Americans experience stress. When you stick to a regular exercise routine, your sleep patterns can improve.
2. Exercise Reduces Stress Hormones: In your body, the 2 major stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline are reduced as you start an aerobic exercise.
3. Exercise Increases Natural Mood Boosters: Not only are the stress hormones decreased while exercising, but the natural occurring mood boosters are elevated when aerobic exercise is performed.
4. Exercise Improves Cognitive Function: Above it mentions anger and irritability as 2 common symptoms of stress. When you exercise your concentration, alertness, and cognitive function are enhanced. This happens as your brain receives oxygen from exercising. While you improve your concentration and alertness, you naturally decrease your irritability and anger as many of those emotions can stem from a lack of concentration and cognitive function.
5. Exercise in 5 Minutes: If you have a busy day and are unable to commit to a long workout, scientists have found that participation in just 5 minutes of aerobic exercise can help alleviate anxiety.