|
Your Mood: Lonely When you feel lonely, throwing a pity party for one will only make it worse. Sometimes the best thing for you is to get out and socialize. Mood Busting Exercises: Any group fitness class Exercising with a group of people who are all following the same routine and all have similar goals can really make you feel like you're a part of something bigger than yourself. No matter what type of class you choose, there are plenty of reasons why group classes are so popular: They offer social support, a friendly environment and an opportunity to meet people who have similar interests. Your Mood: Depressed Depression is no joke. Millions of people suffer from depression that is debilitating and emotionally painful, but exercise is scientifically proven to help treat depression. While finding the motivation to take the first step is the hardest part, the right activity can help. Mood Busting Exercises: Outdoor walking, biking, or running There's something restorative about nature. Getting outside to breathe in fresh air and admire the scenery can make a world of difference in your perspective. Plus, regular exposure to sunlight can boost your mood and ward off seasonal depression, too. No matter what outdoor pursuit you enjoy (think outside of the box and try canoeing, climbing, or team sports, too), moving your body can help improve your outlook and symptoms. Your Mood: Stressed We're all busy, often taking on more responsibilities than we can handle. When life gets crazy and you want to throw in the towel, you can wind down without giving up on your obligations. Mood Busting Exercises: Mind-body exercises like yoga, Pilates, or Tai chi Mind-body exercises take focus, patience, and attention. Because of the complexities of maintaining the correct form and breathing, which connects the mind and body, it's almost impossible to think about your to-do list while you're in the middle of a good yoga or Pilates class, for example. The quiet, meditative atmosphere in these classes (and videos) allows you to tune in to the present moment—something that the overly stressed should do more often! If you're thinking that you're too busy or overwhelmed to try a class, then take advantage of short video workouts that are often broken up into 10- to 30- minute segments. Have you ever finished a workout and thought to yourself, "I wish I hadn’t done that! I really just wasted my time." Probably not. Chances are you feel better physically and mentally. Regardless of your funk, exercise can be a useful tool to get you back to bust your bad mood and get back to your normal self. What are you waiting for? |
|
SparkPeople advertisers help keep the site free! Learn more
Fitness Articles › Pitfalls and PlateausBust Your Bad Mood with ExerciseUse Fitness, Not Food, to Change Your State of Mind-- By Jason Anderson, Certified Personal TrainerSparkPeople advertisers help keep the site free! Learn more
Related Content
About The Author
Jason Anderson
Jason loves to see people realize the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle. He is a certified personal trainer and enjoys running races--from 5Ks to 50K ultramarathons. See all of Jason's articles. |
.jpg)
.jpg)
Summer produce is overflowing--and cheap! Whether you grow it or buy it, it's easy to preserve your food so that you can save money and eat better long after the harvest is over.
Read More
Get a personalized diet and fitness plan, great newsletters, post to our message boards, and even your own personal SparkPage!
Join Now For Free!
Join Now For Free!
Member Comments
Yes, I know. Some women feel "empowered" by kicking and punching. I don't. I just feel sick. To do kickboxing in response to feeling bad would only have me feeling worse.
No thanks. No punching fists for me, please. No kicking feet. - 1/5/2013 10:58:47 AM
and i just do not know where to start, taking a walk clears my mind and i feel i can tackle any thing after . - 8/5/2012 7:34:03 PM
Don't know if anyone already said this, but it's nice to see for a change. - 8/5/2012 2:05:24 PM
I wanted to save it to favourites but couldn't figure out how to... anyone know where the heart symbol's gone that made it a one-click move? - 8/5/2012 3:00:15 AM
Having recently lost my beautiful mum following a short but extremely aggressive and distressing illness, I've been feeling very low and sometimes extremely black. I still workout every morning to a DVD and do strength work, but sometimes these days I feel I want more, to help me cope with my loss.
So for example, yesterday despite the threat of thunderstorms here in the UK I took myself for an hour and a half's hike through my local fields and absolutely loved it. I just walked and walked, and got lost in my thoughts.
Before I knew it, I was almost home, had managed to escape the looming storms, and my head felt a lot clearer and more focussed. - 8/5/2012 1:46:15 AM
Great Article....
- 5/1/2012 4:10:49 PM