Photo by CATHY PHAM on Unsplash
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, physical activities can sharpen your judgment, physical, and thinking skills. It also allows you to relieve stress when life overwhelms you.
If you are curious about how you can boost your mood, here are 8 physical activities that you can do.
1. Walking
When people think of exercise or any physical activity of the sort, the first picture that pops up is lifting weights or extensive workouts. However, it doesn’t have to be the case, even if you’re not physically fit.
If you start with an intense workout first, it can deter you from making it a consistent part of your life. That’s why walking is such an underrated but beneficial physical activity that more people need to do.
It’s easy to do, but it can give you very positive effects physically and mentally when you are consistent with it. Plus, you can do it anytime. If you want to take a break in the middle of work, you can even take a walk for a bit to freshen your mind.
2. Yoga
Yoga is an exciting way to get your body moving because aside from getting your body to move, meditation is an innate part of it. Aside from that, it’s also focused on being more aware of your breathing.
This allows your mind to focus on nothing but the here and now. That’s why many people are yogis all over the world. If you want physical activity to get into that makes you exercise your spiritual, mental, and physical being, that’s yoga all in one.
A yoga retreat at Sewall House is a great way to get your practice started!
3. Pilates
Physical activities let you focus on your body movement and nothing else. It leaves no space in your mind to let stressful thoughts gather. That’s why activities like Pilates are an excellent way to destress and have a moment for yourself and nothing else.
Pilates helps develop your core strength as well as your body awareness. It also helps reduce back and neck pain, which is a common concern among work-from-home people.
4. Hiking
Hiking is a popular pastime for people who are into extreme sports. Whether you do it regularly or as a special treat, you can enjoy hiking regardless of whether you are 25 or 65 years old.
There are plenty of hiking trails that would suit you, depending on the difficulty you want or your expertise when it came to hiking. Besides the fact that hiking gets your body moving, it is also a way for you to access gorgeous natural scenery. Seeing these lovely spots is sure to help boost your mood.
Hiking can be quite an involvement, so make sure that you bring all you need with you, like your rain jacket or hiking boots. That way, your hike doesn’t end up being stressful due to a lack of preparation.
5. Cycling
If you’re looking for physical activity with other practical applications in your life, consider getting into cycling.
Cycling allows you to be physically fit without putting too much of a burden on your joints as jogging or running does. Plus, it’s an eco-friendly way to travel to and from places you need to go.
It can also be a fun activity to do with friends and family, so it can even be something that you bond over. It’s one of the best physical activities that doesn’t feel like exercise.
6. Tai Chi
Another physical activity that also includes meditation as an innate part of it is Tai Chi.
Tai Chi is all about moving the body and being mindful of your breathing, much like yoga. It also helps people be more flexible and is a great way to rejuvenate the body and improve your well-being.
Tai Chi is also a reasonably low-impact activity, and you don’t need any extra equipment to do it at home.
7. Tennis
For those who want to insert a bit of competitive spirit into their physical activities, tennis is a reliably good workout and exercise. If you prefer to do activities with other people, tennis is an excellent choice for that.
When you incorporate tennis or other sports, it allows you to socialize and spend time outside of confinement. That’s because positive social interactions alone are such an excellent way of reducing stress in your life.
8. Swimming
Another low-impact exercise that you can do is swimming. What’s great about swimming is that it doesn’t strain your body, but it provides enough resistance to keep you toned and help you stay fit.
It also helps that swimming is an enjoyable activity that feels calming, especially when you’re floating on the surface of the water. It can even feel meditative and helps you feel less overwhelmed.
Final Thoughts
Stress can be tough to deal with, because small bouts of it can affect every aspect of your life, including your work and relationship. The 8 physical activities listed above can help you manage stress, so pick one you can do today and enjoy the benefits it can bring.
Author: Geraldine Mills
