by P Reddy

Created on: March 14, 2010   Last Updated: March 15, 2010

Today many people experience stress. This is because it is difficult to achieve work/life balance and having to deal with work, family and keeping up with the bills can take it's toll on you.

Scientists have proven that stress damages your health by weakening your immune system, raising your cholesterol, increasing your blood sugar levels and putting you at a greater risk for heart trouble.  It can also cause weight and skin problems.

Regular exercise makes  your health stronger and helps you handle stress by relaxing tense muscles, helping you to sleep better and releasing endorphins, adrenaline, serotonin and dopamines.

What activities can help you beat stress?

Make sure whatever it is that you do, that you commit to it and enjoy the activity.

A repetitive motion has a relaxing effect that some say is similar to meditation.  Some rhythmic exercises are swimming, running, walking and cycling.  Also exercises that focus on breathing such as Tai Chi and Yoga are a great choice.

When you select exercises choose ones that are fun and you will enjoy partaking in for at least twenty minutes, three to five days out of the week.  You do not have to go to a gym to exercise and make it an unenjoyable experience.  You can simply walk around the block, or turn on some music and dance around the house.  Try to think of it as activity and anything that makes you get up and move your body helps.

Once you commit to this in your mind you will park further away on purpose, stretch when you can even if you are at the computer, and take the stairs instead of the elevator.  Incidental exercise makes you feel like you are not exercising at all.

Commit to this for 21 days as research has proved it takes 21 days to form a habit.  Once these habits are formed it will be much easier to exercise and enjoy it.

Make the decision to change your life and your stress levels.  Once you start to make gradual changes they will become a part of your lifestyle and you will start to enjoy it.

Stress can bring you down and hurt every aspect of your life and it is advisable to do something about it before it starts to damage your life.  Exercise is only one of the things that can reduce stress so look into how you can do this in other ways.

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