Physical Activity: how important is it?

By | August 18, 2024

Physical activities will be essential for your health and well-being. They keep your weight healthy while improving blood circulation, strengthening your bones, and building physical endurance. However, the mental health is also promoted through reduced stress, anxiety, and eventually, the risk of depression. Regular activity also prevents many chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

What does physical activity promote?

There are hundreds of studies linking regular physical activity with increased longevity and reduced cases of cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease , etc. In addition, physical activity has an impact on mental health and disease prevention.

Reduces the incidence of chronic diseases

Regular physical activity can reduce the likelihood of people developing chronic diseases . As a result, certain conditions, such as hypertension, osteoporosis, diabetes, obesity and even cardiovascular problems , are less common in people who are not sedentary.

When done regularly, these activities also prevent the risk of developing a stroke, which can be caused by factors such as high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure . As they help regulate hormones, one of the benefits is a reduced risk of stroke.

Prevents osteoporosis

This is one other kind of disease that doing physical activity keeps off. Ensuring the body remains active maintains the muscles and joints. It is an excellent benefit, primarily to the geriatric, for whom natural weakening of the body’s bone structures may predispose them to develop musculoskeletal diseases.

Relieving sleep and mood

It is not only in the body that one begins to feel changes when physical activities are carried out regularly. There is a considerable increase in the disposition for day-to-day life, which helps improve performance at work and the desire to be with other people, have fun, among other things.

Combating a sedentary lifestyle is therefore also important for those who want to eliminate fatigue and discouragement from their lives. With all this, the quality of sleep also improves, thus creating a virtuous circle that leads to greater physical and emotional well-being .

Increases self-confidence

Physical exercise promotes the release of a substance in the body that is essential for raising people’s self-esteem and making them feel more confident.

We are talking about serotonin , which is produced during activity. With this, we become more productive, precisely because we improve the image we have of ourselves.

Reduces stress

You may have heard that health professionals recommend physical activity in cases related to psychological or emotional disorders, right? This applies to both those who suffer from anxiety and depression and those who feel stressed in their daily lives.

Exercise helps to alleviate stress and other symptoms, contributing to their treatment.

Improves mental health

Mental health also benefits from exercise and physical activities. Some sports, such as team sports, help with socialization, learning and develop areas of the brain that prevent symptoms of anxiety and depression.

In addition, activities release the hormone endorphin , which is responsible for the feeling of well-being, in addition to improving mood, increasing disposition and bringing satisfaction. For the body to produce it and act as a neurotransmitter to produce the effects mentioned, it is necessary for the body to be stimulated by movements.

Increases productivity

Almost always, people’s first motivation when seeking some regular physical activity is to improve their health and physical fitness.

Just as a healthy diet has a direct impact on your productivity, the exercises involved also have an effect on this aspect. By burning fat and strengthening muscles, your mental condition improves . This helps you concentrate on all the tasks you need to perform throughout the day.

Controls weight

Obesity , as well as lack of physical activity, are aspects that directly impact the number of deaths caused by cancer, and are classified as modifiable risk factors.

Experts believe that the effect of bodily interest may be greater stated in preventing overweight and weight troubles rather than treating it.

How to start practicing physical activity?

Starting a fitness routine can seem daunting, but with a little planning and motivation, you can make it a part of your routine. Tips to help you get started:

Get a medical evaluation

The first step is to see a general practitioner, cardiologist or sports doctor to find out whether or not you are fit to perform the activities.  The professional will request preventive exams to find out if you have any restrictions on exercising and if you have any health problems that could manifest during exercise.  It is recommended that you have a medical evaluation every year.

Count on a qualified professional

Risk and injury and even impairment in performance are associated with practicing physical activities without any form of professional supervision. Such consequences could prevent regular exercise and cause health complications that may have been prevented if a qualified professional had been supervising the practice.

The initiation of a fitness routine seems so intimidating; however, if one makes some small planning and motivates themselves, then this would easily be added to one’s daily routine. Here are some tips that may help get started:

Clear goals

Define what you want to achieve with the physical activity. It might be losing weight, building muscle, enhancing cardiovascular health, or simply feeling better.

Choose activities you enjoy

Try to find what feels right for you. It could be walking, running, cycling, swimming, dancing, yoga, weight training, and many more.

Start low

First of all do not push yourself too hard. Begin with very short low-intensity sessions and then increase them as your endurance improves.

Have an exercise routine

Plan when and where you will exercise. Planning helps you stick to your exercise routine. Scheduling your workout times as if they were appointments may be helpful in this regard.

Warm up and stretch

Always begin with a warm-up to prepare the muscles and joints, and finish with stretching aids recovery.

Find support

Having a fitness buddy or taking classes with other people can often help with higher levels of motivation and make exercise more enjoyable.

Track your progress

Keep a log of your workouts and observe improvements. Seeing this can be highly motivating in terms of improvement.

Be Patient and Persistent

Results don’t happen overnight. Be patient with yourself and persist, even when it seems difficult.

Take care of your diet

A balanced diet complements exercise and helps you achieve your goals more effectively.

Listen to your body

Respect your limits and don’t overdo it. Whenever you feel pain or discomfort, consult a doctor. If you have specific health issues or pre-existing conditions, try to consult a doctor before getting into this.

How to include physical activities in your routine?

Incorporating physical hobby into your routine can be difficult, but it’s critical for keeping your health and properly-being . Here are a few pointers to help you get commenced:

Choose activities you enjoy

Find exercises that you enjoy. It could be dancing, swimming, cycling, yoga , or any other activity that makes you feel good.

Create a schedule

Set aside specific times of the day to exercise and treat these times as important appointments. Maintaining a routine helps create the habit.

Start slowly

If you just begin, then do not get too aggressive at once. It is better to start with lightweight activities and step up the level of intensity as well as exercise duration.

Perform activities in the course of a day

Increase movement while doing daily things. Take stairs instead of taking the elevator to work, or get off a bus one stop ahead.

Find an exercise partner

Sometimes, exercising is even more motivating and fun if one has a friend to work out with. The two of you can be keeping each other on the straight path.

Make technology your ally

You can get apps to follow your exercise program, video courses, and watches that help monitor your exercise.

Mix up the activities

Mix your exercises to avoid boredom and to work on different muscle groups. Combine aerobic, strength, and stretching activities.

Prioritize well-being

Physical activity should be fun and help your mental and physical health. Don’t overdo it and respect your body’s limits.

Reward yourself

Set small rewards for while you attain your goals. This will be greater time for a interest, a chilled bathtub, or a brand new piece of exercise gadget. Incorporating these practices could make workout a herbal and fun part of your every day lifestyles.

As we have seen, physical activity is essential for maintaining health and promoting the well-being of employees, as well as for improving the organizational climate and productivity. With this information, we hope to have contributed to your knowledge about the importance of encouraging physical activity in the workplace.

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