Why Exercise Makes You Feel So Good

I used to wonder why I felt so great sitting down for my next lesson after gym class in high school. This also left me wondering why I felt so elated after a walk in my adult years or even how great I felt after the occasional jog (despite being winded and sometimes incredibly sore!).

There are a number of reasons why exercise gives us those good feelings after playing a sport, going for a swim or running up a flight of stairs. Perhaps the most important reason is because exercise relieves stress. No matter how relaxed your life may seem, we all have stress building up in our bodies on a daily basis. Taking a leisurely stroll will cut your stress down to minimal levels, no matter how awful or difficult your day may have been.

A Great Burst of Energy

Here's another reason why exercise feels so great: that burst of energy we get from it! For up to a few hours after any sort of exercise, we get that blast of endorphins that makes us feel happier and joyous. As that rush tapers off, our bodies also naturally unwind and we then physically prepare ourselves for sleep.

TIP: Having problems sleeping at night? Exercise 4-5 hours before your regular bed time for a week. You should be finding yourself sleeping easier and longer than you had before.

As with any physical activity, most of us feel a certain level of accomplishment. Whether you ran a full mile under whatever amount of time or had an awesome tennis rally with a pal, exercise is affirmation that we completed something useful for that day. Our self-esteem increases with exercise, which in turn leaves us with positive feelings and positive energy which seeps into every aspect of our lives.

Exercise = Therapy

Running or walking with a friend, playing group sports, or adding any sort of social interaction to your exercise routine leaves one feeling more loved and accepted. We all need SOMEone to listen to us (if not an entire team of people); exercise is a fantastic therapeutic outlet that allows us to verbally and physically unload and blow off steam.

The best part about exercise is that you don't need a pricey gym membership or an expensive piece of equipment to get out there and to get moving. Invest in a good pair of walking, running, or cross-training shoes and you're set!

photo by Cristina Nichitus