Running, or exercise, can improve the mental and emotional
health of the runner. She may simply feel a sense of accomplishment or she may
be happy because her clothing fits better, but studies show that enough
strenuous exercise can lessen the symptoms and effects of stress, anxiety and
depression. Let me show you how running is an immediate stress reliever for me.
I can’t say that I often crave a run. I crave cookies and
chocolate. The anticipation of a run is often the hardest part, so no, I don’t
really crave running. I do, however, crave the way I feel after a run – and by “feel”
I don’t mean the physical exhaustion immediately post-run. I am referring to
the emotional calm and mental clarity that begins to show forth during the run
and continues for a time afterwards. The physical comfort and calm does not
come until I have cooled down, stretched, hydrated, and showered!
How stress is immediately reduced:
Shift in activity and focus. When current mental demands
such as work responsibilities, bill paying, or even housework pile up and a
feeling of rising panic looms, a short run can shift your focus from those things
that are causing anxiety to a physical challenge. It is difficult to focus on
emotional worries when your legs are aching and lungs are burning. Your
attention is aimed at the immediate physical task and those other worries are
put aside, at least for a time. This shift also tends to clear the cobwebs and
eliminate unproductive thoughts that may be looping through your mind – unless those
unproductive thoughts are about how badly your legs are hurting! We will
address those issues in Mental
Tricks for Beginning Runners on my Tips
for Beginning Runners page.
Affirmation of your abilities. Doing something difficult
increases confidence in your ability to conquer other difficult tasks. Going
for a run is hard. Cleaning the bathroom? That’s not nearly so difficult! Even
mowing the lawn becomes almost relaxing compared to a long run.
Physical fatigue allows the mind to focus on what is next.
When I have completed a run and cooled down, it is much easier to sort through
my pile of tasks and prioritize them. Rather than feeling as if everything
needs to be done immediately, which is impossible, my mind and body work
together to recognize what is most important. Perhaps it is the feeling of
exhaustion confirming that there is limited time and energy that allows me to
clearly place in order my responsibilities. There is a peace of mind that
accompanies doing things in wisdom and
order.
Try this:
The next time you are feeling anxious about things on your
To Do List or out of your control, go for a short run or even a brisk walk. Ten
to 20 minutes should do the trick. Stay with it long enough to shift your
focus. Move until those anxious thoughts settle down and you can think more
clearly about what is most important. Then return to your list of things to do
and take control!
Do you have a motivational tip for runners? I would love to hear about it! Post it in the comments below.
Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!
Carol - aka Running Granny Green
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