Stress management - Stress Reducers. Tip 1: Exercise

There are many effective stress management tips and exercise is definitely one of them.

Let’s make one thing clear: exercise doesn’t necessarily mean running 8 miles every evening or lifting 25 kg waits at the gym from 6 to 8pm. Exercise can be any kind of exercise as long as your body is working out.

Tip A: Power walking:

As I mentioned in the planning time technique , I "Power walk". I love it. It’s one of my favourite stress reducers. I guess you have probably heard of power walking and the benefits that it has (aside from being an excellent stress reducer):

- It’s a very good cardio exercise when done properly.

- It’s much better than running for the body as it does not apply pressure to the back or knees.

- You can loose up to 320 calories on a 1 hour power walk.

- You can do it wherever whenever (although it’s not fun when it’s pouring rain!).

- It's an excellent "head clearer" (takes your mind of things or even sometimes may help you find a solution to a problem!!).

- And it’s a great way to relax after a very stressful day. Because you concentrate on your walk, you don’t really think about anything else, or if you do, it really helps to take a step back on the day and refocus your thoughts to avoid worrying about whatever it is that is stressing you out.

How do I make it enjoyable?

- I do it outdoors (i.e. not on a running device at the gym…) and it becomes a power/visit walk!

- I create an IPod playlist with songs that have a fast beat so that I follow it when I walk (which is quite motivating).

- I take different tours every time so I don’t get board from doing the same walk.

- I do it on my own, this gives me some "alone time" to clear my head.

Tip B: Town cycling:

Now this one as well I particularly enjoy. It’s more tiring than the power walk and demands more of a physical effort but it’s also an excellent stress reducer. It has a number of advantages:

- Makes all the muscles in your body work.

- It’s a form of transportation as well as exercise.

- It’s quite liberating and may enhance your mood.

- It’s a very good cardio exercise.

- I find that cycling really de-stresses. Because you have to concentrate on the traffic and also because it demands a lot of effort, I find that it helps you get your mind of things. I also find it very liberating as I say above. It’s really nice on a nice day to cycle with the wind on your hair and it always enhances my mood. I also find it very helpful if I find myself angry or frustrated because after 1.5 hours cycling, believe me, it takes it out of you!!

How do I make it enjoyable?

- Same as for the power walk, I take different tours every time so I don’t get board from doing the same one.

- I avoid using my IPod though because otherwise I can’t hear the cars behind me and that’s quite dangerous.

- I choose a route that will provide me with nice views and landscapes (if applicable, rather than the quickest one).

Tip C: Gardening

I really quite like this form of exercise as well although it is only possible if you have a garden or balcony. The main advantages of gardening as a stress reducer exercise are:

- It’s creative, so it stimulates your brain and takes your mind of things.

- It’s physical which means you are working out whilst being creative.

- I usually do it on a nice day during the week end which means gardening usually comes with a great feel good.

- It’s outdoors which may enhance your mood.

- It’s fulfilling because once you’ve finished clearing your garden or planting a couple of flowers you can see the achievement straight away!

- And finally, it really does de-stress. One Tuesday evening last September, I came home really stressed and a bit angry and frustrated with my boyfriend (for some reason I can no longer remember). I cleaned the whole garden which was full of fallen leaves and seeds. I felt so much better after! It was amazing! I just cleared the garden; it was outdoors and on a nice day and it just made me feel so much better because I had achieved something after such an awful day!

Tip D: Cleaning

Now, this is where you might think I am a bit of a freak (unless you’ve already made up your mind about that!). Cleaning. Yes cleaning, cleaning the house, cleaning the garage, cleaning my boyfriends bedroom, cleaning my desk at the office….cleaning is, by far my favourite stress reducer. It has many advantages to me and it effectively helps me manage stress (no I am not OCD I don’t clean the house very 3 hours, it’s usually once a week):

- It’s physical, which means you actually exercise seriously when you clean.

- It’s really nice to see the result: a nice clean house.

- It’s a mood enhancer. Who doesn’t like living in a nice clean house?

- It’s always an occasion to get rid of stuff.

- It makes others who live with you happy (because let’s face it, even if they don’t clean they do appreciate a clean house).

- It definitely takes your mind of things as you have a task to do.

- You don’t need to get out of the house which means it doesn’t matter the cold weather or the pouring rain. - There is absolutely no investment involved.

- Like gardening, the results can be seen straight away which always makes you feel good.

- Finally, it is the best way I have found to reduce my stress levels. It de-stressed me and relieves the tension built up previously as it demands focus and speed (and usually, a lot of scrubing!).

How do I make it enjoyable?

- I always listen to my IPod when I’m cleaning.

- I use good products which means I don’t spend hours scrapping something off the cooker.

- I see the smiles of my flatmate’s faces once it’s done.

So, reading these exercise tips, I think you probably got the general idea. What makes me feel better? Any kind of physical exercise in which I can pour my anger, frustration and stress. Anything physical enough that means I can let off steam.

But these exercises are also great for me because 1) they take my mind of things for a while which means I then come back to my thoughts with a more relaxed and objective mind and 2) I have to take time to do them which also means I take time for myself! And that, as we now know, is a very important part of effective stress management.

Exercising can help you in a number of ways. It can help resolve health challenges and prevent further complications and the most immediate benefit, it reduces stress.

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