Uggh! Last month I was home sick with Covid! After two years of working in the classroom, wearing masks, and getting all my vaccinations and boosters, I caught the covid bug. Thankfully, I am now fully recovered, feeling well, and back to work. My symptoms included a stuffy head, dry cough, and fatigue. Oh, the fatigue! I tested positive for 13 days and slept many, many hours during that time.
Missing work was frustrating! Being home and not having energy to accomplishing anything was double frustrating. I am of the mindset that if I am home, I might as well use my time to get things done. The only thing I could do…was sleep. So I accepted (begrudgingly) that my body need to rest to recover and slept. And slept. And slept some more.
As my fiends know, I love being active! Yoga, swimming laps, hiking, and after dinner neighborhood walks are my go-to. Adding movement – activities that you truly enjoy – is beneficial to a healthy, well-balanced life. Unfortunately, sometimes life throws you a curve ball or two that gets in the way. Like getting sick and stuck at home.
I was so happy to get back to the yoga studio and the aquatic center. My body was thankful as well, but oh boy – was that first week back filled with sore muscles. Really sore muscles! However, improving your life through fitness is about more than physical health. Getting back to my routines of fitness also helps my mental health as well. Fitness and movement brings a balance to my life that keeps me happy. I do love my endorphins.
Yes, we all know that exercise is a great way to live a healthier lifestyle. A more nutritious diet can go a long way, but being active and staying in shape can take you even further. As enjoyable as the couch potato lifestyle is, fitness can improve your life in a multitude of ways.
Improving Your Life Through Fitness
Physical Benefits
Fitness will, obviously, improve your body physically. As you exercise, your body will develop tone and muscle, and it will also burn off fat. You’ll also enjoy better overall health as your body gets the extra oxygen it needs from physical activity and begins to function the way it was designed – all the way down to the cellular level.
Working out can also give you more energy. The first few days, you’ll probably feel tired immediately after the workout. But you’ll soon start to notice that you’re pumped up and more eager to go out and do something instead of plopping down on the couch.
Being fit may extend your lifespan by preventing heart conditions and other stress-related illnesses. It may also improve the quality of your golden years, because your body is in much better condition.
Psychological Benefits
Working out has obvious physical benefits, but it also has psychological rewards. When you’re in better shape, you feel better about yourself. If you’re a bit short on self-confidence, a healthy, active lifestyle is the ultimate antidote.
When you exercise, your body produces endorphins, the “feel good hormone.” So exercising brings you a feeling of well-being and a happier mental attitude. The extra oxygen also relaxes you while the activity helps rid you of pent-up stress. The result: a happier, relaxed, stress-free you!
Emotional Benefits
With the boost in confidence, your outlook on life will improve and you’ll feel more hopeful about your future.
Exercise also gives you a great way to vent any frustration or anger you may have. If you’ve had a bad day at work, a jog, bike ride, or weight lifting session will allow you to channel all that negative energy into something positive. If you have access to a punching bag, whaling on that for a while is another great way to release frustration.
Social Benefits
Working out is much easier when you have people with you. A group will ensure that you stay on track instead of putting off the workout. If you join a gym, you’ll have the potential to meet new people and widen your social circle.
Even if you just go for a morning jog or bike ride, you can come across neighbors that you seldom get to visit. Taking a moment to catch up with your neighbors can bring more friendships into your life.
A More Fulfilling Life
Exercise gives you a boost physically, psychologically, emotionally, and even socially. If you feel like your life is short of the totally fulfilling existence you were born to live, a little exercise could go a long way towards helping you reach the potential you know you have buried deep inside.
The biggest hurdle you face is getting started. Instead of making excuses, keep thinking about all you have to gain with a lifestyle that supports the creation of a new you. Stick with it until you find yourself craving those workouts and feeling like something’s missing when you miss one. If you choose a healthy lifestyle, starting today, your life will never be the same.
