‘Rona restrictions are beginning to be eased around the state of QLD but life as we once knew it is likely to be a way off yet. Whether you are working or studying from home or not currently employed, we as a community are being deprived of the benefits of incidental exercise such as walking to public transport or walking from the car into the office. Added to this, gyms and group fitness are off-limits for now, which is allowing us to all to rack up our couch-potato hours while we binge-watch Netflix.
Exercise is a free and easy way to boost your mental and physical health. Importantly, as we head into our first taste of winter for the year, it allows for your immune system to fire at its full capacity!
Contemporary evidence backs these statements up, as leading a physically active lifestyle has been proven to reduce the incidence of infectious (e.g. bacterial and viral) and non-infectious diseases (e.g. Cancer, T2DM) (1). If fact, people who partake in strenuous exercise tend to report fewer sick days (2). Implying the immune system boost as a result of regular exercise.
Some other key reasons to get moving:
- Increases serotonin and endorphin release in your brain – Makes you feel good
- Improve your sleep and give you more energy – Good sleep helps you regulate your moods
- Improve your sense of control, coping ability and self-esteem – Builds an achievement-driven attitude
- Distraction from tasks, thoughts and provide an outlet – Especially from the home-schooled children or the living room office
- Reduce skeletal muscle tension – Feel more relaxed
- Improves weight management by increasing your metabolism and tends to impact our cravings towards healthier foods.
Notably, exercise, if not appropriately balanced or individualised can temporarily reduce your immune system and increase your risk of sustaining an injury. This highlights why physiotherapists are essential to the community as they allow people to return-to- or continue exercising!
- Increases serotonin and endorphin release in your brain – Makes you feel good
- Improve your sleep and give you more energy – Good sleep helps you regulate your moods
- Improve your sense of control, coping ability and self-esteem – Builds an achievement-driven attitude
- Distraction from tasks, thoughts and provide an outlet – Especially from the home-schooled children or the living room office
- Reduce skeletal muscle tension – Feel more relaxed
- Improves weight management by increasing your metabolism and tends to impact our cravings towards healthier foods.
