We all must have spoken these words to motivate ourselves, not once, but probably many a time. But how many times have we succeeded in keeping this promise of good health to ourselves, maybe very few times or none? True, this Monday, Motivation is hard to come by. After a relaxing weekend, it is hard to respond to the early morning alarm on Mondays. We can think of a million excuses to stop from dragging ourselves out of bed, freshening up, getting into the gym gear, and lace-up our sneakers.
But if we understand its benefits, we will surely avoid missing our workout regime. Here’s how it will be rewarding…
-
• You’ll feel happy and smile more
Got a meeting early morning on Monday? You're among the majority of the office working population who go through this. Research shows an average office worker does not smile until 11:16 am. However, exercising could help in overcoming Monday blues. Physical activities and exercises release Endorphins (hormones behind your feeling of happiness). A completed workout makes you feel great…is not it? There is this scientific reason behind it. Research quoted improved self-esteem in children and young adults after exercising. If you ever noticed, a simple stroll outdoors for 15 minutes refreshes your mind.
-
• You will most probably work out the rest of the week
If you finally succeed in getting out of bed and land up in the gym on a Monday morning, with all due possibility, you will work out for the rest of the week as well. There is something about a Monday morning exercise that motivates you in the right direction.
-
• You will have better self-control
It may be tough to motivate your lazy self to put on that gym gear resting in your closet. But once you have done that, it is easier to maintain discipline in other areas of your life. A study has proved that moving around for just 15 minutes may help in managing withdrawal symptoms/cigarette cravings. This is because GABA, a neurotransmitter, is released by exercise the help in controlling those pangs and calms down anxiety
-
• You will have reduced anxiety
Anxious about what the coming week holds for you, or about a new case/project that starts on Monday? Hop on a treadmill or do some exercises on the beats of your favorite energetic music number. It will help you in energizing your body and MIND. Aerobic exercises reduce general anxiety/anxious thoughts. Also, high-intensity exercising reduces those extra-ounces and reduces anxiety sensitivity (fear of anxiety). Ever felt fearless after spending a few good hours in the gym??
-
• You will catch better sleep
Good news for my sleep-deprived office-going friends. Resistance exercises can reset your internal body clock for the sleep cycle by affecting your circadian rhythm. A study revealed that chronic insomniacs benefited from 45 minutes of extra sleep per night after four months of exercise. What's better than a good night's sleep for a well-worked-out body.
-
• You will have a better performing brain
Exercises can increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, which helps build healthier nerve cells. The study showed that people who did strenuous exercises performed better on a memory test. Another study noted participants are learning vocabulary 20 percent faster than a control group after intense exercises. So if you need to prepare for a meeting or submit a report at work, a sweat session could help your performance at work.
-
• You may earn extra
As per a study, employees exercising regularly earned nine percent more than lazy peers. So, hitting the gym may not make you rich overnight but can surely increase your chances of earning some extra cash. And anyway, I strongly believe that the wealth of good health is far more than any money. Now that we know the benefits of starting working out, I hope we all will direct our efforts towards starting gym "this Monday," leaving our "snooze" buttons aside.
