We’re all currently living in interesting times, as the old saying goes. It’s easy to see everything that’s been going on and worry about the future. A lot of us are stuck at home without much to do but to think. All this time freed up by not having to leave the house to commute to work is easy to spend overthinking things, which can lead to anxiety.
So finding a way to vent these negative feelings is necessary for staying mentally healthy. Some people take up new hobbies; others distract themselves by binge-watching movies online. But the most tried-and-true method of easing anxiety is exercise and getting fit.
Exercise: Achieving a Healthier Lifestyle
Exercise gets your heart rate up and helps your brain secrete those all-important feel-good hormones. They help ease your worries and curb that sense of impending doom. And all that hard work will even help you look better and help build your confidence and self-esteem.
The great thing is that you don’t even need a gym membership to start getting fit. There are many ways to achieve a healthier lifestyle, and you have to make the best of what resources you’ve got. Here are a couple ideas to get you started on your journey to escaping the pain of pandemic cabin fever:
Dieting Doesn’t Have to Hurt
Changing your diet sounds daunting, and maybe you’re having second thoughts about starving yourself. Maybe you’re even asking what this even has to do with fitness? But that isn’t what proper dieting is about. So forget about fad diets that force you into unnatural eating patterns or tell you to eat only a particular kind of food because of some niche health benefit.
Learning to eat healthily can be a fun and fulfilling experience because of the skills you’ll pick up along the way. It’s easy to learn how to make delicious and healthy meals with all the recipes out there on the Internet. Learning how to cook will also help once it’s safe again to have guests over for dinner. You can impress them with your skills by then.
The extra care you put into your meals will show results, given time. You’ll be able to avoid all the nutritional imbalances that come as a result of following a fad diet, and your tummy will thank you for it.
Stronger Heart, Stronger Mind, Stronger You
Cardiovascular exercise has been one of the cornerstones of physical fitness since man first learned that meat doesn’t want to sit still as you toss a spear into it to make steak. Running, swimming, Zumba—these all count as cardiovascular exercise and need pretty minimal investment to get started.
The main sticking point with this kind of exercise is that it’s a bit time-consuming. But the advantages of cardio outweigh the disadvantages, and it’s
The added strain comes with some added things to take into consideration. If you’re going to be running, it’s important to buy a decent pair of running shoes to take the strain off your joints and make starting out less painful. But it will pay off, especially when you find that you aren’t out of breath the next time you go outside to pick up your package from Amazon. Not to mention that a nice refreshing run can help ease restlessness or claustrophobia.
Swimming is also one of the best forms of cardio out there since the water provides even resistance across your whole body. It’s a great way to stay cool during the warmer months, and it also helps you achieve that coveted summer tan. But you will have to keep a close eye on your pool to keep it clean and free of debris. Make sure to maintain the pool’s pH levels to prevent the water from drying out your skin.
Stick with It
As with all lifestyle changes, all these things you can do to help yourself will only make a difference if you commit for the long term. It’s best to start small and integrate them into your routine naturally so that you don’t burn yourself out by going at it too hard.
It’s important to remember to keep at it, especially when it feels hard. Slow, steady improvement will show results if you’re patient. You’ll thank yourself for all the hard work you put in to help become a healthier, happier you.