Did you know working out can release endorphins to make you happier throughout your day? Working out can help reduce anxiety, a negative mood while starting your day, and improving your self-esteem. Overall, it will help with your emotional well-being and better your mental health.
Self-esteem plays a big role in your day to day happiness. Moving your body and getting in your physical activity can ultimately make you look at yourself in a brighter light. For me, the gym was a great way for me to boost my self-esteem. I always felt lazy and that I could improve the way I looked. I incorporated cardio and some weight living into my daily routine for around 30 minutes. Now, I have worked my way up to about an hour 5 days a week.
In the beginning it’s hard to get adjusted into a routine, but once you push yourself to go over and over again, it’ll become second nature. You can stick to only 30 minutes a day to fit into your schedule. If the gym isn’t for you, campus provides many other options to getting in your physical activity. The SLC has basketball courts you and your friends can pick a game up at to have fun which getting in exercise. When it gets nicer out play a game of tennis or frisbee on the turf.
Working out will help you obtain more energy do complete yours tasks each day and promote a better sleep. Ultimately you will be more tired at night so you can get a full 7 hours of sleep. Getting a full night of sleep will also help reduce feelings of being anxious when you wake up. Working out helps you stay in shape and reduces the risk of ailments like heart disease and high blood pressure.
While taking time to workout, you want to try to incorporate a healthy diet. Many recommend three meals a day; breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For me, having three meals a day is too much. I prefer to have a big breakfast and dinner with a snack sometime in the middle of the day. Try to have a protein, grain, and fruit or vegetable in your meals. A great healthy breakfast is eggs of your choice, turkey bacon, and some sort of toast. A favorite of mine is avocado toast. For dinners, have a meat with rice, potatoes, or pasta on occasion, with a vegetable.
Between improving your workout routine and diet, your healthier lifestyle will leave you physically and mentally glowing. These two factors aren’t the end all be all to mental health and being happy but they are two things that can help you improve day to day and make a slight change.