Did you know that just thirty minutes of physical activity per day could make all of the difference to you and your family’s overall health? It’s true! To many of us, a workout may translate to spending hours in a gym or training heavily. But the truth is, consistency is the key to living a healthy and active lifestyle! Long heavy workouts while beneficial are not always easy to maintain, especially during these times when being in a gym environment is not feasible. Right now, most people have to adapt to an uncertain world, and for some, that means reverting to coping mechanisms. While food, screens, and lounging are comfortable ways to pass the time, being active even just for thirty minutes a day could be part of the cure that we all desperately need!

Benefits of Physical Activity

  • Mental Health
  • Maintained Bodyweight
  • Lower Blood Pressure
  • Increase Relaxation
  • Stress Relief Improved Sleep
  • Improvement in mood
  • Increased Energy and Stamina
  • Reduced Cholesterol

Why it Matters

Exercise offers incredible benefits that can improve nearly every aspect of your health from the inside out. Staying active is also the most cost-effective way to improve your health and quality of life. During these times of uncertainty, making sure your family is devoting at least thirty minutes a day to physical activity could improve their overall health and reduce one more worry.

What Doctors Say

Aerobic exercises like dancing, cycling, walking, or jogging have been proven to reduce anxiety and depression. Exercise has also been found to alleviate symptoms like low self-esteem and social withdrawal. Mood improvements from physical activity are caused by an exercise-induced increase in blood circulation to the brain and by an influence on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and, thus, physiologic reactivity to stress*. Thirty minutes of exercise, even just taking a brisk walk three days a week, is sufficient for mental health benefits.

In a moment in time where many families are faced with layoffs, instability, and a dramatic change to our everyday lives, mental health & wellness is critical. The advantage of being an Altrua member is knowing you have a safety net within our community. As a community, we must do everything we can to alleviate external stress and maintain good health to be stronger together! So run, jog, or walk! Your family and your community depend on it.

*Exercise for Mental Health
Ashish Sharma, Vishal Madaan, Frederick D. Petty
Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2006; 8(2): 106. PMCID: PMC1470658