Hi, there! I’m assuming you’re reading this post because you’re interested in starting to exercise, or are curious how exercise can contribute to a balanced life. If you’re the former, read on to find that final push to get you started on your fitness journey! If you’re the latter, keep reading to keep yourself motivated and reminded that the benefits of exercise go beyond the physical!
This is the first part of my Exercise for Beginners series. I’m not an exercise expert, being new to the fitness scene myself (read why I went from couch to treadmill!). However, I’m sharing my tips as someone who used to never exercise in the hope that I influence and introduce you to this wonderful world!
You might think that exercise can’t possibly lead to a balanced life. It appears as something that could take over your life or eat up your time. Even though it takes a chunk from your schedule, exercise contributes to so many areas in your life, both directly and indirectly. Thus, you get your return on investment pretty quickly, and it keeps giving!
Get fit and healthy
This is the most common reason why people exercise. Many want to achieve a certain physique, improve their health, or do both. We tend to focus on this aspect since it is the most visible and yields direct results. Below are just some of the physical benefits of exercise that contribute to a balanced life.
- Helps to achieve ideal weight – Whether you want to lose, gain, or just maintain your weight, exercise helps you on this road along with eating the right food.
- Strengthens muscles and bones – Exercise can help you build and retain muscle mass and strength as you grow older, and has also been shown to increase bone density thus helping prevent osteoporosis.
- Improves skin – Through improving blood circulation, exercise can promote collagen production and new skin cells to make skin glow. Sweating also clears the pores, just make sure it’s not clogged with makeup prior to working out!
- Increases energy – It has been shown to increase energy and reduce fatigue.
- Reduces risk of diseases – One of the main causes for chronic disease is the lack of physical activity. Exercising reduces risk for heart disease and diabetes, among others.
- Can improve sleep – Exercise has been used to reduce insomnia, just don’t do it too late in the day.
It is almost crazy to not start exercising based on these benefits alone. What’s even better is that these benefits lead to other positive things that go beyond the physical. More energy? Use it to work on your goals. Reduced risk of diseases? Live a longer and healthier life with your loved ones.
Related: 5 Simple Habits to Slow Aging
Improve mindset for a balanced life
Although it’s mainly physical, exercise is also a mental activity and thus has positive effects on our brain and mindset. Getting over those excuses to exercise already entails a lot of mental power! Practicing this regularly can help you learn to mute those excuses more easily, and not just to exercise, but to do other productive things as well.
Developing your “mental toughness”, and challenging yourself to reach your fitness goals and keep going is also something that results from exercising continuously. Whenever you’re completing an extra difficult routine, try to take it as an exercise for your mindset too. This will improve your resistance to doubts and worries around your other goals.
Exercise can also help improve mental function and memory by increasing the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. It has been shown to have a positive effect on older people’s mental functions, and can also improve resilience to Alzheimer’s disease.
Relax and reduce stress
Another surprising effect of exercise is that it helps you relax and reduce stress so you can live a more balanced life! And it’s not only through yoga or slower forms of physical activity, but also other types of exercise. When you work out, your mind focuses on the present and not on your problems. This happens as you get into the rhythm of a workout, or when running outdoors to appreciate nature.
In fact, exercising has been used to fight depression and anxiety. There is something in working out, whether it’s the release of happy hormones or the exhilaration of moving, that reduces stress. In addition, having me-time gives you a sense of relief since you are doing something that directly promotes your well-being.
Take care of yourself
Aside from physical and mental benefits, moving your body also improves your emotional state. Since it releases happy hormones and increases your energy, your mood is also lifted. If you’re angry or agitated, a little release, whether through peaceful yoga or powerful kickboxing, will work wonders.
For extroverts, working out in a class helps you build connections with people and create that sense of community, even when done virtually. On the other hand, introverts can improve their emotions by exercising alone and reveling in their own company. It’s a daily chance to connect with yourself.
After each exercise, notice how you feel. You might find yourself a little tired, but also energetic and in a better state than you were before working out. There’s that sense of achievement of overcoming a difficult task that you initially thought you couldn’t.
Exercise contributes to a balanced life
How do all these positive exercise effects contribute to a balanced life? First and foremost, you take care of yourself when you workout. Better health and increased energy means more quality time spent on the other things that matter to you. It could be working on your dreams or taking care of your family. An improved mood and mental state mean more patience, understanding, possibly better ideas, and flowing creativity.
If anything, think of it as a break from the usual chores and activities of the day. It’s a chance to rest your eyes from your computer screen, a new thing to focus your brain on, a way to remind yourself you are human and alive!
Spending a few minutes each day to get your muscles moving is a small price to pay for all the benefits you get that extend into all aspects of your life. If you’re convinced and can’t wait to start, here are some of my tips to start exercising—and sticking to it!
And if you’re an exercise newbie, check part 2 of my Exercise for Beginners series, What Exercise Beginners Should Know! It talks about the different types of exercise, duration, and intensity to help you decide which one is right for you!
