How Exercise and a Healthy Lifestyle Lead to Happiness

Physical movement has been around since the cavemen. And most recently, it’s one of the hottest trends out there. But not only is it a trend, exercise along with a healthy lifestyle increases one’s happiness.

Have you ever gone for a run and got that so-called “runners high”? Well that’s because of endorphins. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. Endorphins are a group of hormones and once they’re released in the brain and nervous system, there’s a physiological effect. The effects include but are not limited to: pain relief, positivity, energy, improved sleep cycles, and reduced anxiety, stress and depression.

People everywhere are promoting health and fitness – even the hottest celebs. With social media at the forefront of our society, we can’t help but to be bombarded with everyone’s daily routines and lifestyles. Including images of their 3-6 meals a day.

So why not jump on the band wagon? Stop scrolling on your phone and get to it people!! Here are some tips and tricks to help you stay on track and change your lifestyle:

1.) Eat mindfully

Let’s slow down here. How many of you eat in front of a screen? Be it a television, smart phone, tablet, whatever your device is. Don’t do it. This is a huge distraction that takes away from the sheer pleasure of enjoying food. Put down your book. Get away from your desk. Chew slowly and mindfully, enjoying the aromas and colors of what you’re eating. With all of the extra distractions, it’s almost impossible to tell when you’re full or not – therefore you’re probably eating more than your body needs or wants for that matter. At your next meal, I challenge you to slow down. It’s worth it.

2.) Incorporate H.I.I.T. training into your workouts

H.I.I.T. is an abbreviation for high intensity interval training – which consists of bursts of intense exercise followed by periods of rest. My favorite type of H.I.I.T. is just 25 minutes on the treadmill. It’s a great workout if you’re busy and it gets the job done. H.I.I.T. workouts are shown to help build endurance, burn more calories in a shorter period of time, boost your metabolism and even more. BodyBuilding.com gives you access to a ton of great workouts.

3.) Don’t be afraid to lift weights

For a long time, I remember being very intimidated by the gym environment and everything that came with it. Lifting weights scared the you know what out of me. I was afraid of looking…dare I say it…manly. Yet this is totally a myth! After years of weight training my body did everything but look 'manly'. Lifting weights have helped me to get lean and strong. I highly recommend it if you’re a slave to the cardio machines at the gym. Switch it up – there are so many benefits of muscle building and you’ll feel great too!

4.) Two words…Yoga & Meditation

Is there such thing as too much exercise? Yes, and it was me. I used to cancel plans if I couldn’t fit my workout in that day. I was listening to external queues rather than internal queues. I was 100% ignoring my body. But then I started to practice yoga and meditation. Something happened that I would’ve never imagined. I started feeling happier. And I was doing more than being 'trendy'...I was actually listening to what my body wanted. Yoga and meditation has helped me stay present in all aspects of my life. My body feels open, loosey-goosey, and even more energized than ever before. It really works wonders if you keep practicing.

5.) Stay thirsty, friends!

Drinking water is a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle. Staying hydrated gives you energy and helps you stay full for a longer period of time (plenty of times we think we’re hungry when all we really need is a big gulp of H2O). Also, when your body is hydrated, so is your skin. Which means you’ll get that effervescent glow you’ve always longed for! At least 64 oz. of water per day should be consumed.

6.) Stop comparing you’re behind-the-scenes with everyone’s highlight reel

It’s 2018 and almost everyone has a mini computer in their pockets with the world at their fingertips. But that’s not the issue. The issue is that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing people live such 'perfect' lives. Scrolling on our phones can often make us feel like garbage. We see people posting their best moments and tend to forget what life is really like. So, stop. Stop comparing your body to that Instagram model in a teenie-weenie bikini on vacation. Stop criticizing yourself for not having the 'perfect' job (whatever that means, anyway). And most importantly, stop wishing for something and start taking action towards your goals.