Stress Management Tips on Exercise

• A little exercise goes a long way when it comes to stress. Dougal Waters/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  Studies show that regular exercise helps people manage stress in a number of ways. Just 20 to 30 minutes of aerobic activity four days a week can help you sleep better, improve your concentration and promote feelings of self-esteem, which in turn can alleviate feelings of stress. The trick to managing stress with exercise is to find an activity you enjoy, and to perform that activity in a stress-free setting.

Do What You Love

• If you don't enjoy what you're doing, you aren't likely to be doing it for long. On the other hand, if you can find an activity that you look forward to doing, staying motivated and finding time for exercise will be easier. For example, if you hate to run, try the bike instead. If aerobics classes seem daunting, opt for a yoga class or a session of pilates. Doing what you love will not only help you stay motivated to continue exercising; it will also eliminate the stress of working up to an activity you dislike.

Find Your Happy Place

• Where you exercise is just as important as how and when you exercise. For example, if large crowds stress you out, opt for a solo form of exercise that doesn't involve crowds. If running on the treadmill bores you, take your run to the streets and experiment with establishing different routes.

Focus on the Journey

• Instead of replaying that unpleasant exchange with a co-worker, or continuing to puzzle over that problem you have to solve by Monday, focus only on the physical movements, and how you feel as a result of them. For example, when running on asphalt, focus on the feel of the road underneath you, the in and out motion of your lungs, and the blood circulating through your thighs as you crest a hill or round a sharp corner. Not only will this help you take your mind off things in your life that cause you stress, it will also yield a more focused workout, which in turn will pump more endorphins--the 'happy' hormone--into your bloodstream.

Find a Partner

• Even furry friends make excellent exercise partners. courir sur la plage image by MONIQUE POUZET from Fotolia.com

  Having an exercise partner will help you to establish a regular routine, and also keep you motivated to stick with it. Run, hike or bike with a friend a few mornings every week, or meet a friend for an aerobics or yoga class every other evening. While your exercise timetable will largely depend on your own schedule, the important thing is to have a schedule and to stick with it, as the more regularly you exercise, the more you will benefit from exercise as a stress reliever.