by Patricia Sabina

Created on: November 14, 2008   Last Updated: November 26, 2008

Is exercise the perfect remedy for stress?

Stress and exercise have something in common. The body under stress secretes the hormone cortisol into the bloodstream. One of the effects of this hormone is that it gives a burst of energy and this can make us feel agitated and edgy. Exercise requires energy so this makes it an effective and natural way to neutralise the effects of stress. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /

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Aside from that, exercise is vital for the overall general health of mind and body. It is as necessary as nutrition, and even though we may have a very healthy and balanced diet, nutrition alone is not enough. For optimal function of the body's organs we need to exercise, at minimum, a brisk walk for at least 45 minutes a day five times a week. Think of your body as a river. The body which does not exercise is like a clogged up river with stagnant murky water.

How to eliminate stress? Keep it simple - review, plan and act. Start right now with a re-evaluation of your daily schedule. Map out your day over a period of a week. You may be surprised to find that even just by doing this; you start to feel less stressed. You're doing something about it and that has to feel good! If exercise is not a regular feature in your life, schedule it in now! Even if you can only fit in 15 minutes a day, it's a start, commit to that - 15 minutes is better than zero minutes. Involve a friend or partner in reviewing your schedule. Exercising on your own is more difficult to maintain and if you have your partner or family on board there is the advantage of mutual support and it will be much more fun. Since others may be the cause of some of the stress in your life, get them involved in your stress reduction plan and let them become part of the solution!

Make your exercise something you enjoy. You may prefer to walk or run in a park than on a machine in the gym. Whatever your preference, do it! It doesn't have to make you miserable. If your schedule shows that evenings include three hours of TV-watching, turn that into two and a half hours of TV. For the other half hour do sit ups, jogging on the spot, just keep moving. If you need ideas for exercising, there is a vast amount of information on the web. As a starter, visit www.stress-relief-exercises.com

Scrutinize that weekly schedule closely and see where you can bring exercise into it whether it is in your work setting or at home. Show your schedule to others, friends may be able to help even if they can't exercise with you, they may be able to offer you some good ideas and increase your options. But whatever you do, don't set yourself goals that set you up for failure aim for less more often. Plan to give yourself weekly rewards for maintaining your new schedule, like a special fruit, or a magazine. You'll start to notice the physical effects of your efforts very soon and this will be an added incentive.

To eliminate stress from our lives completely is an ambitious, and some would say, impossible aim. While exercise is an essential part of any stress reduction plan, it is really only one part of the story. Exercise can reduce the symptoms of stress but it can not eliminate the cause of stress entirely. For that we have to dig a bit deeper. Stress may be and is often caused by the physical, emotional and mental demands placed on us at work and at home. In our evaluation of these stressors then, we have to be honest about what is realistically and reasonably possible. It may be wise to seek professional help.

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