So in my last post, I was talking about how it is important to adapt the
amount of exercise (and the type of exercise) to your own energy levels.
This time, I would like to talk about practicalities.
1- Check your own energy levels.
If you have already done a 10 hours day, been on your feet all day, you are tired and only want to go to sleep, then this is probably not the right time for you to go for a 4 miles run.2- Check the time of the day.
If you want to go to the gym,
then doing it in the morning is much better than last thing at night. I do
realize that for most people going for a
run at 21h00 is the one and only time in the day where they finally have a bit
of time for themselves. Except that it is also the time the body is getting
ready to sleep. Instead, the body will go into a ‘woken up mode’ which is at
the opposite end of what it’s supposed to do. What it also means is that, if you
have problems falling asleep, it will be even more difficult to do so.
3- See how you are feeling after your work out.
If you are
feeling refreshed and dynamic after an hour at the gym, then it’s probably
right for you. If you are feeling washed out and tired after a 20 minute swim,
then it’s not. It can be that you need to find a more gentle type of exercise
(let’s say Yoga instead of Zumba) or that you need to reduce the length of your
workout (doing only 20 minutes instead of 1 hour).
4- Know how to differentiate lack of energy from stress
Both
will make you feel tired. But in the first case, you want to reduce your
exercise routine, whereas in the second case, you want to maintain it or to do
some exercise more often. A good way to differentiate tiredness from stress and from lack of energy is the way you feel after some exercise. If you feel full of energy, bouncing around and ready to take on the world, then stress was the likely culprit of your tiredness.
5- Choose your type of exercise according the time of the month.
This is really an advice for women. It takes extra energy to menstruate and
because of that, women need to be extra careful at this time of the month. It’s
best to avoid strenuous exercise to let the body recover. It is also better to
avoid swimming.
6- Remember that exercise isn't just about going to the gym.
You can just walk the dog, cycle to work or with your children. You can play football
with your children. You can go for a run on your own or join a running club.
One of the most important thing you can do is to find something you enjoy doing
at the level that is right for you.
7- And above all, ensure that exercise is part of your daily/weekly routine.
Even if it is only 5 minutes of gentle walking because
you are too frail to do more, exercise is important to become and stay healthy.
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Photo by stubailey via Flickr
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