Day Four Challenge: Move Your Body for Your Mind

Today we are going to move our body (and potentially break a sweat), but not with the focus on losing weight, but losing STRESS.

If you are feeling stress in your day, working out may be the LAST thing you want to do. I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to hit the weights hard or run off to that hour-long spin class. If you’re feeling stressed, simply going out for a walk outside can help to lower cortisol (the stress hormone) in the body.

How does moving your body help improve your mood and mind?

• Lowering stress hormones such a cortisol and adrenaline. (1)

• When your body is busy, your mind gets distracted.

• Loosens up tight muscles.

• Oxygenates our body and makes it easier to focus on our breath.

Here’s how you can simply add in some movement today:

• Go for a 20 minute walk outside in nature.

• Go for an evening bike ride.

• Work on stretching tight muscles with some mobility training.

The first suggestion is my personal favorite. Most people can go for a walk. Intentionally think of a time to plan out your walk. When would you enjoy it most? The morning, during a work break, after dinner? Plan it out and write it down.

If the weather isn’t ideal for walking (I see you snowy states), hope over to YouTube or your favorite workout streaming service and find a gentle stretching routine or yoga flow and press play.

The point is to find something that you can do easily and focus on relaxing your mind and moving your body. Stretch it out. Feel the air fill up your lungs and breathe deeper. Take a few deep breaths as you move. How are you feeling? What are you thinking about as you move.

Tomorrow (spoiler alert) is also going to be mind focused and I think you’ll find today seamlessly runs into tomorrow.