Love your body enough to make sure it get’s a workout in today. After all, it’s the only one you have.
There are literally millions of reasons why you should exercise, but I've decied to give you a quick 7.
Voila!
1. Helps Reduce Stress
Stress is an inevitable part of life, especially in today’s constantly connected world. We are attached to our phones, which means we are attached to all the different things that bring us stress.
As anyone who has ever worked out can attest to, once you’ve completed some form of exercise, you’re left feeling much calmer and at ease. As the Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports, “exercise and other physical activity produce endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers.” Thus when you exercise you’re literally treating your body with the best form of medicine, it’s own natural response, and like Elle Wood’s says, “Happy people don’t just kill their husbands.” She gets it.
2. Helps You Sleep Better
When you’re less stressed, it’s much easier to quiet the swirling to do list in your head, and fall asleep. The funny this is, when you sleep better, you’re less stressed. It’s a vicious cycle once you’ve fallen off the wagon.
The National Sleep Foundation states that “exercise “triggers an increase in body temperature, and the post-exercise drop in temperature may promote falling asleep.” This idea is also why professionals recommend cool dark places for optimal sleeping.
Get those z’s in now because they truly will help you in the future!
3. Slows The Aging Process
Penelope Cruz has said that she sleeps for up to 12 hours as part of her beauty routine. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have 12 hours to sleep, so if I can add something into my day that has multiple benefits than why wouldn’t I?
A telomere is a “region of repetitive DNA at the end of a chromosome, which protects the end of the chromosome from deterioration,” and as they age they begin to shorten; however, what researchers from the University of Mississippi and University of California, San Francisco have found is that incorporating any type of physical activity into your daily routine can slow the aging deep within these cells.
Remove the stress, and prolong the longevity of your youthful cells. We all know stress is the fast track to aging, so let’s kick it to the curb for more reasons than one.
4. Keeps you from getting sick
Beyond looking and feeling good, exercise has been long proven to help maintain you health. By boosting your body’s endorphins, testosterone, and circulation you’re literally helping your body get rid of the bad stuff much quicker.
Men and women, who exercise frequently are less likely to fall ill than their sedentary counterparts, say researchers at the University of Houston.
So sweat it out, and boost that immune system!
5. Helps create a schedule.
When you build working out into your daily or weekly routine, you’re more likely to build other healthy habits into your lifestyle. Things like meditation and you time management skills become important, and your life tends to flow in a much more effortless way.
Making time for yourself, means making time for you to the best version of yourself for everyone else.
6. Improves Confidence
I think it’s pretty safe to say that when you feel good in your skin, you’re more likely walk with your head held higher, speak up when you believe you should, and walk around with an extra pep in your step.
Dr. Pulkit Sharma states,” Whenever you exercise your personal worth increases because it gives you a feeling that you have done something rather than sitting passively and brooding over issues.”
Additionally, a general sense of confidence has been linked to why people get promotions, attract the right mates, and live an overall happier life.
Um, yes please.
7. Improves Your Sex Life
Who doesn’t want that?
Sex is a natural part of any adult’s life, and a positive sex life can affect many areas of your life.
When you exercise, you’re tapping into your body’s testosterone, and increasing its overall levels, which is also where a large part of your sex drive comes from. Furthermore, exercise increases the body’s blood circulation, which as Dr. Laura Berman states, “helps improve arousal,” and the bodies “genital sensation as well as the tingle of sexual excitement.” Additionally when you feel good in your skin, you’re less likely to feel self-conscious taking off your clothes.
And as I like to say, “fit sex is good sex.”
Overall, the idea of working out, fitness, and exercise needs to shift from a chore to something that feels good, and has so many benefits for your well being. I know it can feel like a struggle to get to the gym early in the morning, or after a busy day at the office, but getting there is usually the biggest obstacle.
If you’re just getting back into a routine, remember to start out small, so you don’t overwhelm yourself. Conversely, if you’re someone who has found your flow then great, but remember to keep things interesting, and take some days off, so your body can recover.
We often get caught up with reasons why we can’t workout, but here’s the thing, working out is truly a way to honor your body, mind, and soul, so don’t let yourself get in the way of living your healthiest and happiest life!
