How to use exercise to release the feel good factor!

If you are a regular reader of this blog you will know that I firmly believe that exercise can help you beat the blues and release stress.

It is apt then that today is the day we put this theory into practice. 

This is because today is known as "Blue Monday", the day that is supposedly the most depressing day of the year. It's all to do with the rubbish weather and the full impact of Christmas finally hitting (when exactly is the next pay day!!!).

So lets stop the downwards spiral in it's path and release some of those feel good hormones.

To achieve this all you need to do is get your heart pumping that little bit more blood around your body by increasing your heart rate.

How do I do this?

Any type of exercise should achieve this but the most effective way is to do some activity that primarily uses your cardiovascular (CV) system.

So activities such as:

Walking (at a decent pace)
Jogging
Running
Fartlek/interval training
Cycling
Skipping
Aerobics
Dancing
Swimming
Almost any exercise class!

Aim to do a little everyday (as little as 5 minutes really helps) and at least 2 decent length sessions per week (30 minutes).

If you are finding it difficult to find the time, try to incorporate it into your everyday tasks.  So walk a bit faster once you are on the homeward leg of the school run, dance around the kitchen while making your dinner (Kitchen Discos are a regular feature in my house!) or even do some oldskool aerobics moves when the adverts are on the TV!

What have you got to loose except your bad mood?

Aileen x