Taking care of yourself is essential for your overall well-being, and adding exercise to your self-care routine can have a significant impact on your physical and mental health.
Overview
- Why Exercise Should be a Part of Your Self-Care Routine?
- How to Add Exercise to Your Self-Care Routine
- Our Recommended Exercises To Get Moving For Self-Care
Exercise can also help reduce stress, improve your mood, and boost your energy levels.
In this article, we will be highlighting reasons why adding exercise to your self-care routine is super duper important and how to do it effectively, like a superstar 🙂
Why Exercise Should be a Part of Your Self-Care Routine?
1. Physical Health Benefits
Of course, we all know that regular exercise can help improve your physical health in many ways but what we may not know is that the continued maintenance of weight loss through a consistent work-out regime can also help long-term with improving cardiovascular health, and reducing your risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancer. No one has ever heard an older healthy person say “I regret exercising so much..” and that’s because they are ripping the benefits of a consistent workout routine and hopefully we can do the same 🙂
2. Mental Health Benefits
When I was younger, I used to think that exercise was always to look slimmer and fit into the perfect jeans as seen in those magazines. However, the longer that I work out, the more evident it is that “exercise is therapeutic for me”. Exercise can have a significant impact on your mental health. Studies have shown that regular exercise can help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, improve our mood, and boost our self-esteem. Exercise can also help manage stress and promote better sleep for us.
3. Increased Energy Levels
Adding exercise to your self-care routine can also help boost your energy levels. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which are chemicals that can improve your mood and increase your energy levels. The prolonged energy boost truly helps improve our overall attitude, mood and sets the right tone for getting things done and performing optimally for the day.
How to Add Exercise to Your Self-Care Routine
1. Choose an Active Hobby You Enjoy
One of the keys to adding exercise to your self-care routine is to choose an activity that you enjoy. This can be anything from walking to swimming to yoga. When you enjoy the activity, you are more likely to stick with it, and it will feel less like another thing on your to-do list.
2. Set Realistic Goals
When adding exercise to your self-care routine, it’s essential to set realistic goals. Start small and gradually increase your intensity and duration as you get stronger. This will help you avoid burnout or injury and keep you motivated to continue exercising.
3. Schedule Your Workouts
Scheduling your workouts is essential when adding exercise to your self-care routine. Just like any other appointment, make sure you block out time in your calendar for exercise. This will help you stay accountable and ensure that you make time for yourself and your health.
4. Tag Along with a Workout Buddy
Exercising with a friend or family member can be a great way to stay motivated and make exercise more enjoyable. Having someone to share your goals and progress with can help you stay accountable and make exercise more fun.
5. Listen to Your Body
It’s important to listen to your body when adding exercise to your self-care routine. If you feel pain or discomfort, take a break or modify the exercise. Pushing yourself too hard can lead to injury and derail your progress.
6. Reward Yourself
Rewarding yourself for sticking to your exercise routine can help keep you motivated and on track. Treat yourself to something you enjoy, like a relaxing bath or a favorite meal, after a challenging workout. Celebrating your accomplishments can help you stay committed to your self-care routine.
Our Recommended Exercises To Get Moving For Self-Care
Here are some suggestions on exercises you can add to your self-care routine and their benefits:
1. Walking
Walking is a simple and accessible exercise that you can add to your self-care routine. It’s low-impact, making it an excellent option for people of all fitness levels. With one step at a time, as you listen to your favorite music or podcast or comedy skits; you’d be surprised how far you can go. Walking can help improve your cardiovascular health, boost your mood, and reduce stress.
2. Yoga
Yoga is a popular exercise that can help improve your flexibility, balance, and strength. It can also help reduce stress, improve your mood, and promote relaxation. Yoga can be done at home or in a studio, making it a versatile option for adding exercise to your self-care routine.
For more on Yoga, check out our article on Yoga for Self-Care
3. Strength Training
Strength training involves using weights or resistance to build muscle and improve your overall fitness. It can help improve your bone density, boost your metabolism, and increase your strength. Strength training can be done at a gym or at home using bodyweight exercises.
4. Swimming
Swimming is a low-impact exercise that can help improve your cardiovascular health, build endurance, and strengthen your muscles. Swimming can also help reduce stress and promote relaxation. It’s an excellent option for people who may have joint pain or injuries. With the summer season, there is absolutely no excuse for leaving this hobby on the backside. You can take yourself swimming on the beach, at the nearby fitness center or your apartment. The refreshing effect of swimming will allow your body and skin to thank you later.
5. Dancing
Dancing is a fun and engaging way to add exercise to your self-care routine. It can help improve your cardiovascular health, boost your mood, and increase your flexibility and coordination. You can take a dance class, dance at home, or join a dance fitness class for added motivation and social support.
Final Thoughts
Adding exercise to your self-care workout routines is a powerful way to improve your physical and mental health and it can significantly impact your life perspective too. Exercise can help reduce stress, improve your mood, and boost your energy levels. When adding exercise to your self-care routine, it’s essential to choose an activity you enjoy, set realistic goals, schedule your workouts, find a workout buddy, listen to your body, and reward yourself.
By following these tips and exercises to keep you healthy, you can successfully add exercise to your self-care routine and enjoy the many benefits that come with regular exercise.
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