Topic: The mental and physical benefits of exercising: reduce stress
Our editorial team is dedicated to finding and telling you more about the products and deals we love. If you love them too and decide to purchase through the links below, we may receive a commission. Prices were correct at the time of publication.
Pandemic burnout is a real thing. For xo168 The Wellness Edit series, we’ll be sharing articles that help readers deal with stress, cope with burnout by creating awareness and hopefully, inspiring others.
Stress can creep up on us in many forms, and the Mental symptoms can vary from worrying and insomnia to irritability and even panic.
In addition, mental stress can lead to physical symptoms such as tensed muscles, neck, back pain, headaches and more. Our body's response to stress can be so critical that it produces even more stress. When our mind and body correlate the stress signals, it can create a serious loop of anxiety.
To combat this unhealthy loop, we can turn to exercise. many studies have shown that when we exercise regularly, our body releases a natural chemical called endorphins, which can lift our moods and contribute to lower rates of depression.
Endorphins react with our brain's receptors that help reduce perceived stress and pain. That is why a "runner's high" is often associated with that feeling after a burst of endorphins.
How much exercise is good for you?
Ms Mira Zaman, Exercise Experience Coach for Singapore, agrees that exercising, in general, helps us release endorphins which allows your brain to reduce stress and improve your mood. "Though endorphins' main job is to inhibit pain signals in your body, they also produce euphoria! It makes you feel happier instantly, and the effect lasts a reasonable amount of time," she adds.