What do you think of when you hear the word “exercise?” It may bring a sense of excitement, adrenaline, uneasiness, or shame. You may have more than one of these feelings, or the thoughts that run through your head may fall on a different spectrum. Needless to say, physical activity means something different to everyone!
Updated May 18, 2023.
While we will touch on many different benefits of staying active, it’s important to remember that in order for you to find success, you have to find your reason. Determining your “why” will keep you going when the going gets tough! Coaching may be able to guide you there.
The following list includes some but not all the reasons why you should move more. Which one sticks out to you?
Regular fitness combats health conditions and diseases. The key word here (and really with every point) is “regular.” Being consistent in your fitness activities has been shown to help prevent or manage many health problems and concerns. For example, the onset, severity, and maintenance of high blood pressure, cardiovascular events and disease, depression and anxiety, arthritis, many types of cancer, and so much more are all impacted by regular fitness.
Fitness improves mood. Various brain chemicals are released during physical fitness. These chemicals may leave you feeling happier, more relaxed, less stressed, and overall healthier.
Fitness promotes better sleep. Using more energy throughout the day can make your body desire more rest in preparation for doing it again tomorrow. Tip! Don’t exercise too closely to bedtime. You may be too excited to calm down for some zzz’s.
Moving more and creating habits that involve staying active is not only good for the individual, but valuable to prioritize in all of your relationships. The YMCA encourages families to focus on fitness together, as it not only supports physical health, but also:
Stronger relationships! Spending quality time as a family, especially during “fitness” activities, has been shown to improve parent-child relationships, promote belonging, support communication, and even increase self-esteem and social skills. These benefits not only pertain to the family dynamic itself but also other healthy relationships outside the home.
Healthy lifestyle habits! Making physical activity a family priority early on creates a strong foundation for a lifetime of health. See this chart for how family fitness habits improve the health and well-being for everyone.
Screen-free time! Americans are in front of a screen now, more than ever. Too much time in front of a screen is detrimental to our physical and mental health.
Notice that nowhere did we say you have to go to the gym to experience results. The gym is great for specific workouts, extra support and training, and equipment you may not have access otherwise. It all simply points to moving more! And you can do that anywhere – whether inside or outside – by doing the same activity or changing it up.
The bottom line is that FITness is a major factor in creating a healthy life, and it does not have to be hard or complicated. It simply has to include moving your body, getting your heart rate up a bit, and using your muscles. So slow down, enjoy the process, and keep going! As a reminder, Balanced Wellness is here to walk alongside you in your journey, whether you are creating a plan, need accountability, or desire a structured program. Our staff members are educated and excited to work with you, and our founder has an Exercise is Medicine certification, among many others. Meet our team!