One of the most important parts of my life is health and fitness. Training and eating well not only gives me more energy day to day but it also increases my levels of happiness without a shadow of a doubt. Back in my early days of contemplating what makes up a happy life and how I could affect my long term happiness, I couldn’t help but notice the positive effects I found with regular exercise and this left me wondering if something deeper was occurring.
I dug into the topic of exercise, nutrition, rest and happiness and my research uncovered some really exciting stuff! Including the bodies natural chemical production system which actually produces “happy drugs” within our bodies and even on demand when we know how! I will probably devote a whole new course on these subjects one day as it is so important!
There has been many studies from some of the top Universities in the world that show without a doubt the more we exercise the happier we'll be. Just as a quick example, Stanford University's research showed that the act of moving around (running or walking) and some resistance training, almost killed incidents of depression in the students studied. These weren’t full force athletes either. The level of athletic performance was irrelevant. Just being physical was enough for them to have happier lives! The rest of the studies I've looked at are just as positive. Maybe more importantly, this research is backed up by my own life experiences as well as those of the people I know. I'm sure yours confirms it too.
So if we'd like to really achieve happiness, we need to adopt a lifestyle where exercise, nutrition and rest are truly a priority.
Keep these things in mind, especially if you've been sedentary for a period of time and need some extra guidance in getting back into shape.
Pace Yourself.
If you are out of shape, start off slow. This makes it much more likely you will be able to stick with your new approach to exercise and fitness. Even walking for thirty minutes and doing pushups and crunches three or four times a week while cutting out junk food is a nice beginning. After this join a gym and get even more serious.
Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help.
Many people aren't sure how to put together a workout program or diet. This is hardly an obstacle at all, unless you allow it to be one. There's no shortage of good Guides on the subject that will tell you all you need to know and do. You could even hire a personal trainer for a few sessions if your finances allow. You are investing in both your health and happiness so believe me this is money well spent!
Expect Sudden Benefits.
Just through the dopamine boost from regular exercise sessions you can expect almost instant mental benefits. It may take some time to see the results in the mirror, certainly, but feeling happier will likely hit you right away!
Endorphins are some of the so-called "happy chemical" and nothing brings them on like breaking a sweat. There are other “happy chemicals” that our bodies produce such as dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. These chemicals are very important to happiness and if they are understood they can be produced by your body on demand giving you a happiness booster whenever you need it.
More Energy Will Equal More Opportunities To Be Happy.
Eating more healthy will give you more sustainable energy. So will keeping your body weight within the healthy range for your height and bone structure. Having more energy will give you more fuel to be happier. This will carry over into all areas of your life - work, school (if you are a student), your hobbies and even your sex life. The more energy you have to devote to these important parts of life, the better they will run and the happier you will be.
It is also important to remember that your body will generally produce the energy you require for your usual routine. This means that if you sit around all day and do not exercise then your body will not produce exercise that you will not use. With a sedentary lifestyle this will generally leave you feeling tired and like you do not have energy for physical activities. However if you lead an active lifestyle and exercise regularly then your body will be used to supplying large amounts of energy when you need it. In this case you will generally feel energetic and ready for anything that life throws at you.
Better Sleep Will Equal More Energy.
Sleep is something that can be easily overlooked when we talk about exercise and nutrition in respect to health and fitness. Rest is a key part of maintaining a healthy body and a healthy mind. It is during our sleep when the majority of our bodies healing and rejuvenation processes take place. This applies to the mind as well as our bodies. The key thing to get right here is to get good quality sleep and to try and keep a good sleep pattern and bedtime routine wherever possible. It is also important to remember that ever body is different and requires different amounts of rest. The general guide line is 7-8 hours sleep per night for an adult, however you should work out what you need and try to stick to it. A good way to find out your bodies sleep requirement is to get early nights until you regularly wake up before you alarm. When you go to bed at a regular time and wake up naturally you will see how much time you are spending asleep and this will be a very good indication of your general sleep requirements.
More focus on nutrition, exercise and sleep will reward you again and again. And that's something to be happy about.
Your body is your temple. On the path towards a happier lifestyle make it a friend rather than a foe!
Check out my other blog posts for more content to help you in your journey to achieve greater happiness.
Alternatively you can get in touch with me and see how I can help you personally and get you results fast like I have done with all my other clients.
I wish you all the happiness you can possibly get! Take care of yourself!
