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Its no news story that exercise helps improve emotional and mental health.
In fact, a well-known study reported byStanfordfound walking even increases creativity levels.
Despite carving out a career as a trainer and fitness advocate, I dont always feel motivated to exercise.
For that reason, over the years, Ive developedthree physical wellness tweaksto keep me motivated in the gym.
And now, Im revealing my three fitness non-negotiables for building mental stamina, too.
After all, emotional and physical health walk hand in hand.
Do workouts you dislike from time to time
Unpopular opinion: do exercise you dislike from time to time.
You might be wondering why, and thats completely fair.
After all, arent we encouraged by the fitness industry to do what we enjoy and can stick to?
For the most part, that is true.
But actually,doing exercise you dislike could have unexpected health benefits.
Joy can come from unexpected places, even a workout you previously disliked.
Its also worth looking into why you might dislike something.
Is it the exercise itself or the relationship youve developed with it?
Tuning into this can helpbuild mental stamina.
Plus, overcoming obstacles can make us happy.
Breathwork actually works
Breathing is a fundamental physical aspect of exercising properly.
InGarmins 2023 fitness report, breathwork was trending with a 33% increase in users trying intentional breathing exercises.
In fact, it was a top activity of 2023.
Stress is measured using heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) on a users watch.
An activity that has proven to slow the heart rate and calm the nervous system is breathwork.
Why not combine your next breathing activity with nature and get outdoors while you do it?
YourGarmin watchmight thank you.
Instead, developing a calmingnighttime routinecould be more beneficial.
If you enjoy meditation, why not combine the two with thiswalking meditation?
