Anxiety, depression, and stress are all major health issues. A third of US employees have difficulty concentrating due to poor mental health. However, there are some simple ways to manage your mental health to live a healthy and happy life. One way is through physical activity. Physical exercise is as effective as antidepressants to relieve anxiety and depression symptoms. Not only does it help you feel better mentally, but it also helps reduce your risk for heart disease and diabetes. The following workouts were designed to be done in 15 minutes or less and will help you reduce stress and anxiety while boosting your mood.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is an emotional or mental state that can be mild to severe. It’s usually triggered by what you might call the “fight or flight response.” This response is designed to help your body react quickly in dangerous situations.
When you’re anxious, your body releases adrenaline and cortisol, which increases your heart rate and blood flow. You start to sweat, your palms get sweaty, and you may feel like you’re having trouble breathing.
What is depression?
Depression is a mental health disorder that makes the person feel sad or hopeless. It can also make it difficult to enjoy things they once loved, like food, sex, family time, hobbies, and activities. Depression can negatively affect relationships with friends and partners. It can be hard to get out of bed in the morning. Depression also impacts work productivity. People who are depressed are more likely to miss work or show up late because they are too anxious about the day ahead of them.
What causes these issues?
Anxiety, depression, and stress are all symptoms of the same issue. A chemical imbalance causes them in your brain. Sometimes, our brains can produce too many chemicals for various reasons. Other times, external sources cause the imbalance.
When your body produces too many of these chemicals, you may experience symptoms like anxiety or depression. You may have symptoms like lethargy or low motivation when you have too little of them.
You can find out if this is happening to you by checking how often you’re feeling stressed, anxious, fearful, or depressed within a week. If you’re experiencing these symptoms more than three days per week for several weeks, then it may be worth talking to a professional about treatment options that could help.
Why physical activity can be helpful
Physical activity has been clinically proven to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. It also reduces your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems.
Many different types of physical exercise have been shown to help with mental health issues. Some are more intense than others, so it’s important to find an enjoyable activity to keep yourself motivated. Exercise doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Walking is a great form of exercise because it’s free and can be done anywhere! If you have trouble fitting in time for an hour-long workout, try one of the following workouts that only take 15 minutes or less.
How to implement a workout routine into your daily life
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be challenging. With today’s hectic schedules, it’s not always possible to find the time to exercise. That’s why we have designed these simple workouts for you to complete in your spare time.
This is an eight-minute workout routine that will improve your mood and energy levels while reducing stress.
1. Standing arm circles: Begin with 15 reps of arm circles, clockwise and then counterclockwise.
2. Triceps dips: Place your hands on the back of your chair or couch and bend your knees until they are at a 90-degree angle. Bend your elbows to lower yourself, then push back up until you’re back in the starting position. Repeat 15 times.
3. Chair pushups: Place both hands on the edge of a chair with your feet firmly planted on the floor beneath it. Lower yourself until you are at a 90-degree angle, then press back up to the starting position by straightening your arms as much as you can without locking out any joints. Do this 15 times per set, three sets total.
Keep the workout short
Some people may think that to be healthy, you have to spend 30 minutes or more on a workout. This is only partially true. Studies show that when working out for an hour or more, your body starts releasing cortisol and adrenaline, leading to feelings of anxiety and depression and making it difficult to sleep. The key is to keep your workouts short and sweet, so your body is less likely to release these hormones.
If you’re crunched for time, try these 15-minute workouts designed by a certified personal trainer:
\\* 10 minute workout \\* 5 Minute HIIT \\* 10 Minute Abs Workout
The best part? They’re all short enough that you can fit them into your busy schedule!
Plan ahead
When you plan, you give yourself time to think of what you need. It’s the first step to staying on top of everything and getting it done. Start small and choose one task for each day.
When it’s time for your workout, all you have to do is put on your running shoes and go! You don’t have to worry about finding gym clothes or trying to find a parking spot at the gym. Just grab what you need and go!
This strategy works well for more than just workouts—it can be applied to anything from planning out your kids’ lunches to preparing dinner before work. This will make sure that every morning starts on the right foot and you don’t miss anything important as the day goes on.
15 minutes 4 me
Physical activity is a great way to relieve both anxiety and depression symptoms. The following workouts were designed to be done in 15 minutes or less and will help you reduce stress and anxiety while boosting your mood.
Conclusion
We all know that exercising is good for the body. But the benefits don’t end there. Studies show that physical activity can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Here are some quick and easy workouts that you can do in 15 minutes or less.
