5 Ways to Boost Your Activity Level & Improve Your Health
by Rachel Connolly
Stats show most people are stressed and anxious on a daily basis. Considering the increased demands of the modern workplace, widespread urbanization, and obviously recently declining social life and sense of connection, it’s not surprising. The environment we engage with regularly isn’t good for our physical and mental health. Maybe it is time to step out of the grind and consider some leisure activities that will improve both your mental and physical health. Here’s a list of 7 activities you could consider if you feel like you’re burned out and can’t take the crazy anymore. We hear you… but often feeling overwhelmed and off track simply means stopping and reassessing a bit. Get out of your box and find a prettier one, even if it’s for only one afternoon.
Try Going on a Picnic
Research shows that spending time outdoors and in open green spaces is extremely effective in calming a person down and reducing stress and anxiety. You don’t need to trek to a mountaintop, but we won’t call you crazy if you do. Whether revisiting a favourite place from your past or putting some effort into discovering an entirely new haunt, take a break from the constant need to “accomplish” that society puts on us (hint: a hike is often actually another version of this) and take a day off. Truly. Turn off your phone. No… really. Turn it off. (But still keep it charged and take it with you in the case of needing directions maybe. Depends on how far out you intend to go…)
This connecting with the outdoors is why picnics have traditionally been a way for people to cope with harsh conditions in their daily lives. In the days of social distancing this is a good option if you can find a space outdoors and out of the way that you can take those who are closest to you or even just spend an afternoon by yourself with a great book. Don’t we all have that amazing read that we’ve been meaning to get to collecting dust on our bedside table? Take a page from the Bridgerton elite and don your best sunhat (and SPF) and sundress and if you can find a place with a creek to dip your toes into, all the better.
Sadly, there’s been a drastic decrease in the number of picnics and long visits to parks and other places rich in nature due to a myriad of reasons, some of them unavoidable, while others are of our own doing and simple lack of prioritizing our own self imposed seclusion. When we have things like quarantine imposed upon us, we may feel trapped. Try to rethink your approach to this forced vacation from society as we know it and turn lemons into lemonade. Literally. Nothing says picnic better than lemonade. But we digress… our point is that we all need to cherish mental space and re-learning to spend time with ourselves, while uncomfortable at first, can have immense rewards for our well being. You may even discover that adding a few picturesque touches towards your picnic gives you a sense of purpose. You can do it for your Instagram if you wish, but that shouldn’t really be the point. Not everyone needs to have a wicker basket on hand to tuck a blanket and a book under your arm and head out with a few snacks… but if you put a bit of effort into what your setup will be when you get there, you may find joy in the tinier details. Sometimes that’s all that matters to enjoy a day out. Rediscover the little things in life.
Visiting Your Friends and Family
Living away from your hometown can be quite trying and stressful, and if you don’t create a social group quickly, those of us who are rather social butterflies could become isolated and unable to flutter about sufficiently to be in a good mood. Often we get a few days off and immediately think VACATION simply because it’s what’s expected. Then follows the budgeting, the planning, the packing, the unpacking, the cramming in of the things, the packing, the unpacking… you get the picture. If it’s the right time for a proper vacation to someplace on your bucket list, that’s great. But if it’s more work than it’s worth, pause to check in with yourself and see if a simple trip home to visit family or friends is a better bet. You will know pretty quickly if the thought fills you with the feeling of joy and comfort or anxiety. If your family stresses you out, you are welcome to choose your own family in the way of old friends that you haven’t connected with in awhile. If possible, spending a weekend on a short visit could refresh your state of mind and give you new energy to get back to your life and tackle any issues you’re facing.
A Vacation Abroad
Of course, a proper vacation abroad is a classic way of dealing with stress. If you’re feeling particularly distressed or lost, a vacation abroad can be enough for you to recuperate and clear your mind. Since summer is coming, you have a range of options available, from beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean to rosy and soothing cities of East Asia. Enjoying a Mallorca party or spending some time in a Japanese bathhouse is an experience you won’t forget quickly. Don’t just do what everyone else is doing… come up with a plan that will cause a stir around the water cooler upon your return… just for kicks.
If you are an adventurous “run headlong into life” type, you might want to spend time in a country where you don’t speak the language and it will take some navigating to get around such as Japan or Thailand. However, if your preferred activities are spa related or you enjoy comparing wines at sunset, you might enjoy the French countryside. Yet again, if your idea of getting away from it all is the woodsy outdoors by a lake, you will find some gorgeous out of the way (way out of the way) locales in Canada, the Great White (only in winter) North.
Whatever your idea of escape from the daily grind looks like, step away from your tried and true and opt for someplace you’ve never been to experience life outside of your comfort zone. You know… to experience the most comfort. Or… well… we promise that it won’t be a bad idea to switch it up a bit and remember, relaxing does not equal boring.
Visiting a Museum or a Heritage Site
Play tourist in your own area. Either your hometown or the city closest to you that speaks to you. Whether a staycation or a next-door-cation, you might be surprised to find that where you live is in fact quite fascinating. Few of us spend much time actually exploring our own areas unless we suddenly have somebody come to visit that prompts us to look into what other people do when visiting locally. Exploring a museum or a heritage site is an excellent way to reinvigorate your imagination. Learning more about the area you live in, or about specific local landmarks can really inspire you to look at your personal life with new eyes. Why do you live where you do? Well, if you are feeling less than excited about things of late, it might help to imagine why people who came before you chose the same location to build their lives. Also, seeing the long arch of history helps people put their problems into perspective and encourage them to be more active in their lives.
Find yourself a gallery or space with a collection of art. Immersing themselves in a world of paintings and sculptures has inspired countless poets, novelists, architects, philosophers, and even politicians over the years. You might be inspired to take another look at your home and think of how you might “artify” it or take up a new hobby. You may just find your new favourite place to go and think. Millions of people find inspiration in the arts. A visit to a museum, gallery, or even going to take in a symphony is sure to help you with stress, and if you want to keep art in your home, you can buy detailed fine art prints that will adorn your house and help to maintain a healthy mental state.
Get active!
Engaging in sports or games is a great way to relieve stress. Studies show that playing athletic games boosts your cognitive abilities and decreases your chances of depression. Moving stagnating energy through your body is one of the best ways to get out of a slump. It provides more mental clarity and focus and can give you an excuse to be more social or even meet new people. This is not to mention all the benefits of playing sports have on your physical health.
However, you need to make playing sports a habit if you want to see big improvements, and to do that, you have to approach it strategically. Too many people start going all in and burn themselves out relatively quickly, and then they regress to their previous unhealthy habits. If you find something you love to do, from dancing to volleyball to badminton, if you need a kickstart or incentive to keep it up, invest in a class or a club. When you have made a commitment to others (or your bank account) you are more likely to keep the appointments you have made with yourself to stay in the game. Spend a bit of time looking for places that have a great atmosphere, friendly and knowledgable staff and a great vibe to ensure you will want to return and spend time there.
If you’re not used to extensive physical exercises, you could start with relatively simple and non-demanding sports like golf (if you don’t know how to play, you can read about the best beginner golf clubs to get started) or swimming. This slowly gets you used to doing sports and you’ll be able to give more intense activities a go soon enough. It’s important to realize, however, even the simple exercises you’ll get playing a low impact sport like golf or walking or swimming can greatly improve your health. Just start by moving your body.
