Study: 15 minutes of exercise per day strengthens our psyche more than a week of wellness vacation
Exercise is good for us—just how good, according to a new study. It demonstrated that just 15 minutes of physical activity boosts our mental well-being by 21 percent more than a week-long wellness vacation.
Do you also know that high feeling after a good workout? Exercise is a natural mood booster that helps us stay mentally strong and feel good. Not to mention, of course, the positive physical effects of regular exercise.
Study on exercise and wellness holidaysA recent study has even shown that exercise boosts our mental well-being more than a week-long wellness vacation. In the "Everyday Escape" study by Asics, a research team led by Dr. Brendan Stubbs from King's College London and the University of Vienna surveyed 17 people from the UK, the US, and Australia about the effect of exercise. The results were supported by a global survey of 11,000 people.
Are you looking for routines that help you unwind? Do you want to finally get a good night's sleep? Learn how to calmly handle stressful periods.
The study's findings: Just 15 minutes and nine seconds of exercise boosts our mental well-being by 21 percent more than a week of wellness retreat. Those surveyed who consciously take time for physical activity every day feel more relaxed, balanced, and energized—and benefit from the positive effects for longer than after a short retreat.
71 percent of participants report that they find daily exercise more effective against stress than their last wellness trip. 65 percent confirm that daily exercise is a stronger mood booster, while 73 percent observe longer-lasting positive effects than after their last relaxing vacation.
It's so easy to incorporate more exercise into your everyday lifeWhat's particularly remarkable is that we don't need a 60-minute power workout every day to feel good. Even short sessions of around 15 minutes can have a positive impact on our mood and well-being, according to the study results.
Such small pockets of exercise can be incorporated into busy schedules and stressful everyday lives. How about, for example, cycling to work instead of driving? Or getting off the train or bus one stop early and walking the rest of the way?
Even a short yoga session can help us feel more balanced while also preventing back pain and strengthening our muscles. Depending on your personal preference and schedule, you could do it first thing in the morning after waking up to start the day mindfully. Or you could practice a few yoga poses before bed to help you unwind and perhaps even fall asleep more easily.
Ultimately, it doesn't matter what sport or form of exercise you choose. What's much more important is that you find a little activity every day. Your mental health will thank you – and your physical health too, of course. But that doesn't mean we can't still enjoy a nice wellness weekend every now and then.
mbl Brigitte
brigitte
