April 2024 - Exercise
Harnessing the power of exercise as a natural stress reliever is something that this Zen Curious Lawyer is not a stranger to, and this month we are going to look at the benefits of exercise on your mind, your body and your cortisol levels.
Benefits of Exercise
We have heard it all before, exercise has varied benefits for your mind and body including releasing endorphins, improving sleep, increasing energy levels, enhancing mood and improving focus.
This month I learnt more about how exercise can reduce stress levels and in particular your cortisol levels.
What is Cortisol and Why is it Important?
Cortisol, sometimes called the stress hormone, is produced by your adrenal glands in response to stress. The higher your stress levels the more cortisol your body produces.
High cortisol levels can lead to weight gain, muscle weakness, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and mood swings.
When we exercise we force a short-term, controlled, spike in our cortisol levels which can help train your body to better manage cortisol levels outside of its control.
To find out more about Cortisol Levels and Exercise check out this Runner’s World article.
Who has time to workout?
Finding time to workout can be a bit like finding a Family Lawyer without a caffeine addiction – elusive, but not impossible
I am not saying I have the answer – my 4.20am starts are not going to be everyone’s cup of tea (or coffee). However exercise does not necessarily have to be 45 minutes – 1.5 hours of daily weight training, it can be as simple as a brisk walk at lunch.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare released an article in 2017 which promoted the overall health benefits of walking at lunch. Walking at lunch is also a great way to improve your focus and get you through that awful mid-afternoon slump.
Early morning workouts help me find clarity in my day, give me the patience to get those kids moving in the morning and, best of all, come with some spectacular views.
And then there's the view...
The Verdict
Would I recommend Exercise
Unsurprisingly this is absolutely a stress relief tool that I can recommend – it is great for your mind and body. Why not take on the challenge yourself by join your local gym, or walking/running group.
Working out with others also gives you added benefit of having a social network of like-minded people, who will greet you with a smile and check in on you if they haven’t seen you for a few days.
Looking for some extra motivation, consider joining your nearest Parkrun, a completely NFP, weekly event, run by volunteers with a great, supportive atmosphere.
What’s install for May…
The month of May we are going to be heating things up and checking out the benefits of sauna.
