Exercising Reduces Stress Articles | Sleep

By: Jim Rollince

As well all know, staying healthy is greatly dependant on good sleep, and first-class sleep is dependant on a number of things; one of the most significant happens to be stress. Visiting the doctor may result in the following suggestions:

Keep ambient light at a minimum

Refrain from using loud, abrupt alarm clocks.

Consume a high protein snack before bed.

Stop eating before bed.

Enjoy the sun and get some fresh oxygen during the day.

Use sleep aids.

But what most doctors fail to say is that high-quality sleep can be achieved by removing unnecessary stress in your life. And although you may be living a somewhat perfect lifestyle (i.e. good relationships, job, etc…), there still may be something missing; that something could most likely be exercise.

Those who exercise regularly tend to pursue a simple, yet mundane routine. In fact most of the time the routine becomes so boring that they leave the gym feeling unsatisfied. This feeling of boredom leads to restlessness or anxiety – These feelings then lead to amplified brain activity just before and during sleep.

Without getting too “science,” it’s pretty easy to pinpoint the source of distress. Your body needs to find a way to “play” during the day, or else it will never tire itself out. Once your exercising routine becomes a duty, it’s no longer enjoyable or fulfilling. As human beings, we’re preprogrammed for work and play – whether or not your involved athletically, you should remain active in one way or another, and through this random activity or sport you should be able to locate some sort of enjoyment. If not, I suggest doing something different. For instance, if your friends are avid tennis players (but you not so much), perhaps it’s time to switch to hiking or skiing. Watching movies and playing on the Internet are relaxing and fun, but avoid getting too used to such practices.

At the same time, be careful as to not do too much; as I mentioned previously, some people like to frequent the gym and follow the same daily regimen. This is great if you’re entertaining the thought of entering into a weight-lifting competition, or you’re a professional athlete. But for most people, this simply won’t cut it.

Again, It’s important to teach both the body and mind new things. This is intrinsically true with things like dance. Zumba is an excellent example of something different, fun, and unique. The ability to genuinely enhance cardiovascular function and endurance, while practicing muscle memory routines effectively exercises the whole body. And simply put, it’s fun!

Undeniably, the most sensible and pleasurable way to stay in shape is by playing intramural sports.. Playing in an intramural dodge ball or kickball league can successfully burn fat and leave the body feeling accomplished. A majority of children are brought up to play sports, or some other engaging extra-curricular activity (i.e. – karate, kayaking, etc…) Similar physical activities like mountain climbing, biking, quad racing and swimming are all great ways to actively stay in shape and enhance sleep.

By making a few simple tweaks, you can easily put some joy back into your every day routine, keeping things fresh, and keeping your mind/body in a healthier, less stressful state. And I’m not encouraging that you devalue things like relationships and work; these are all very important stress factors that must be tended to regularly. So aside from supplemental pills and diet, make sure you diversify your exercise/health routine as to not become burdened by what should ultimately be an enjoyable experience.