How to Boost Your Mood Through Exercise
Be mindful of your surroundings., Focus on your goals., Use exercise to improve your confidence., Expand your social network through exercise., Channel stressful emotions into exercise.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Be mindful of your surroundings.
Being mindful during an exercise routine has been shown to increase your sense of satisfaction with the exercise.This may help to boost your mood, so try to practice mindfulness the next time you work out.
Pay attention to the physical sensations of your body and your surroundings as you exercise.
How do your muscles feel when you move them? Do they feel warm? Sore? Powerful? What can you see, hear, and smell in your environment? For example, you might see a large tall tree ahead of you next to the road you are running on.
You might hear the sounds of the music playing in your headphones, or the sounds of a city.
You might notice the scent of fresh rain or flowers if you are outside, or an air freshener if you are in a gym.
Stay present throughout your exercise routine.
Avoid dwelling on anything that makes you feel anxious or unhappy.
Focus on your physical sensations and your surroundings instead.
You can also try to focus on your breathing while you exercise.
You might even try to coordinate your breathing with your physical movements.
This will help you to stay focused on your workout. -
Step 2: Focus on your goals.
Narrowing your focus to your goals during exercise may also help to improve your experience.You may get more enjoyment out of your exercise session by focusing on what you want to accomplish with your exercise, rather than letting your mind wander.
For example, you might focus on your goal to lose 10 pounds, reflect on how much progress you have made, and think about how the exercise you are doing right now will get you closer to this goal.
Doing this may help you to feel more positive and motivated during and after your workout. , Studies have shown that exercise can improve your feeling of self-worth and your self-esteem.
Feeling confident about your physical appearance can help you feel confident mentally and emotionally.You can also gain confidence by meeting your fitness goals, even if they are small or gradual.
Achieving even one or two fitness goals a month can help you feel accomplished and motivate you to feel proud of yourself. , Exercise can also help you meet others and socialize with new people.
You may meet new friends at the gym or in a fitness class.
You may also meet others on your running route or while you are working out in a public space.
You may also feel more comfortable meeting people when you are exercising as it may be easier to connect and chat when you have fitness in common. , You can also process any stressful emotions you are having by exercising and working out.
Rather than keep these intense emotions to yourself, you can try channeling them into productive actions like working out.
Studies have shown that exercising regularly can help reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. -
Step 3: Use exercise to improve your confidence.
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Step 4: Expand your social network through exercise.
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Step 5: Channel stressful emotions into exercise.
Detailed Guide
Being mindful during an exercise routine has been shown to increase your sense of satisfaction with the exercise.This may help to boost your mood, so try to practice mindfulness the next time you work out.
Pay attention to the physical sensations of your body and your surroundings as you exercise.
How do your muscles feel when you move them? Do they feel warm? Sore? Powerful? What can you see, hear, and smell in your environment? For example, you might see a large tall tree ahead of you next to the road you are running on.
You might hear the sounds of the music playing in your headphones, or the sounds of a city.
You might notice the scent of fresh rain or flowers if you are outside, or an air freshener if you are in a gym.
Stay present throughout your exercise routine.
Avoid dwelling on anything that makes you feel anxious or unhappy.
Focus on your physical sensations and your surroundings instead.
You can also try to focus on your breathing while you exercise.
You might even try to coordinate your breathing with your physical movements.
This will help you to stay focused on your workout.
Narrowing your focus to your goals during exercise may also help to improve your experience.You may get more enjoyment out of your exercise session by focusing on what you want to accomplish with your exercise, rather than letting your mind wander.
For example, you might focus on your goal to lose 10 pounds, reflect on how much progress you have made, and think about how the exercise you are doing right now will get you closer to this goal.
Doing this may help you to feel more positive and motivated during and after your workout. , Studies have shown that exercise can improve your feeling of self-worth and your self-esteem.
Feeling confident about your physical appearance can help you feel confident mentally and emotionally.You can also gain confidence by meeting your fitness goals, even if they are small or gradual.
Achieving even one or two fitness goals a month can help you feel accomplished and motivate you to feel proud of yourself. , Exercise can also help you meet others and socialize with new people.
You may meet new friends at the gym or in a fitness class.
You may also meet others on your running route or while you are working out in a public space.
You may also feel more comfortable meeting people when you are exercising as it may be easier to connect and chat when you have fitness in common. , You can also process any stressful emotions you are having by exercising and working out.
Rather than keep these intense emotions to yourself, you can try channeling them into productive actions like working out.
Studies have shown that exercising regularly can help reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.
About the Author
Kathryn Gordon
Professional writer focused on creating easy-to-follow home improvement tutorials.
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