The Benefits Of Fitness As Part Of Your Self-Care
by: Sheila Olson of fitsheila.com
Photo credit by Pexels
Self-care is important for everyone’s physical and emotional health. It helps reduce stress, builds self-esteem, and prevents burnout. Properly making time for activities that put you first can also help you be more productive.
One of the most important self-care activities is fitness. According to PsychCentral, “Vigorous exercise (heart racing and body sweating) for 20 to 60 minutes a day, three to six days a week, increases cardiovascular capacity, releases endorphins (which have a role in reducing stress and depression), and burns excess calories, leading to weight reduction.”
You may feel too overwhelmed to add another thing to your life. Read how to integrate self-care into your life at LifeHacker. The good news is that even a little exercise is better than none! There are also other aspects of fitness you can adapt.
Adding Fitness Into Your Life
Fitness doesn’t have to be dreary or frustrating. Here are some ways you can get healthier now:
Nutrition & Supplements
A healthy diet is important and today, clean eating that tastes good is easy to achieve. For example, there are many safe sweeteners that have a lower glycemic index than sugar, meaning it has less impact on your blood sugar levels. A healthy way to move forward is to reduce sugar and processed food in your diet. Instead, add in healthier options.
To ensure you are getting enough of the nutrients you require, you may need to supplement. Speak to your doctor before starting any diet or supplement regimen.
Hydration
It’s very important to keep hydrated as you go through your day. Wherever possible, keep a water bottle by your side to make sure you don’t run out. How much to drink? Simply drink whenever you’re thirsty.
Sleep
Sleep can keep us fit too. Dr. Michael Twery, a sleep expert at NIH, says, “Sleep affects almost every tissue in our body.” It impacts hormones, appetite, blood pressure, and cardiovascular health. In fact, lack of sleep increases the risk of obesity.
Exercise
Exercise is still an important component as long as you find the right exercise for your current level of health and fitness. It should also be something you enjoy. Examples include swimming, hiking, and dancing. If you recruit a friend, it will be more fun to participate, and you’ll have built-in accountability.
Talk to your doctor about how to select and integrate an exercise routine into your life. He can help you select an appropriate program for your health and weight.
Additional Benefits of Fitness for Addiction Recovery
While everyone can benefit from a fitness routine that is appropriate for them, people in recovery from addiction stand to gain as well. For example, working out keeps you busy with a healthy habit. Read more reasons why exercise might help during recovery in this article from The Doctor Weighs In.
When selecting an exercise program, work with your doctor and your recovery team to select one that you’ll stay committed to. Whichever one you select, be sure not to overdo it. Exercise is beneficial, but it can be addictive and you don’t want to risk a serious injury.
If you are looking for a low impact exercise, yoga may complement your needs. It teaches you both meditation and mindfulness, and these have benefits for people in treatment. In fact, research shows that yoga “can provide energy, satisfaction, and stability on an addict’s road to recovery.”
Fitness is necessary for better health, weight loss, stress reduction, and improved emotional health. All those things are essential to self-care. Even people on the road to recovery can benefit with from the right fitness regimen. How are you taking care of your health today?
