Do you feel like you get enough physical activity? If you’ve answered “yes, definitely” to this question, you are likely in the minority – because the trend across much of the world today is that people, and societies at large, are becoming more and more sedentary on a virtually daily basis. I’m sharing the benefits of getting daily physical activity today. Unfortunately, the negative effects of getting too little physical activity on a day-to-day basis are pretty well documented. They include a significantly increased risk of different negative health conditions, in addition to a reduced overall sense of well-being, and lower energy levels as well.
Today, there are all sorts of different solutions out there for potential issues that might be limiting how much physical activity you get on a day-to-day basis, ranging from supplements like the top herbs for lung health, to different items of workout equipment to facilitate greater ease of movement.
Here are just a few of the benefits of getting more physical activity in each day, whether that additional physical activity comes in the form of something as relatively innocuous as finding time for a daily stroll or using a standing desk at work, or whether it involves adding in some gruelling fitness challenges.
More Energy and Drive
Although it might seem as though it would be the opposite, getting more physical activity on an everyday basis can actually contribute significantly to the overall level of energy and drive you experience on a day-to-day basis – and this obviously has great implications for everything ranging from your ability to properly explore a hobby or passion project of yours, to your ability to thrive in your chosen career.
If you’ve ever felt exhausted and have sat down for the entire day and waited to experience a burst of energy, you’ve probably noticed that the “burst of energy” part of that equation rarely ever actually ends up materialising.
If you get up, go for a stroll around the block, and do a light workout and stretching routine, there’s a good chance you will find yourself feeling way more energized as a result, and more motivated to do whatever you had planned for the day. With more and more people now living increasingly sedentary lives, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that increasing numbers of people are also reporting that they feel chronically worn out and unmotivated on a daily basis.
Of course, this is by no means the only contributing factor to feeling a lack of energy. But it’s likely to be a big factor nonetheless.
Head Games
Physical activity, as a rule, has a powerful ability to get you “out of your head, and into your body” and this, in and of itself, can be a very powerful benefit.
Since time immemorial, it’s been known that chronic overthinking, rumination, and obsessive introspection tend to lead to negative states of being such as depression and anxiety.
Living in the moment, however, and being less wrapped up in your own thoughts, theories, imaginings, and projections of things, can lead to a significantly more positive and empowered experience of everyday life – one where you are less likely to be subject to things like chronic analysis paralysis.
Particularly if you find that you are vulnerable to rumination, stress and getting stuck in your own head, increasing the amount of physical activity in your day-to-day life can really have a grounding effect, and can help you to experience a healthier sense of balance and perspective.
Elevated Mood
As previous points you have already outlined, there are plenty of ways in which a more physically active life can lead to an elevated mood and a more positive overall experience of everyday life.
In addition to those points already mentioned, though, physical activity also releases not only feel good endorphins – depending on the intensity level of the training – but it also releases what have been termed “hope molecules” by some experts, due to their ability to promote feelings of hope, optimism, positivity and wellbeing. Moving around more really can boost your mood.
Increased Inspiration
From authors to philosophers, many influential figures from throughout history have commented that regular walking has been instrumental in helping them to come up with their best and brightest ideas.
Physical movement seems to be intimately connected to inspiration in one way or another, and can go a long way towards generating ideas and helping to free up insights that would’ve been difficult – if not impossible – to come by if you had simply sat down in your office chair all day trying to think creatively.
