Exercise as a Form of Self-Care
"Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands," Elle Woods, Legally Blonde. It's true that exercise is a powerful mood booster. And it's also true that we all need some mood-boosting from time to time.
In fact, whenever we find ourselves feeling icky — whether because of a setback or just general sadness — one of the BGFs will indulge in an hour-long solo walk or a trip to the gym for a few hours. This gives us the opportunity to stop and reflect on the bigger picture. When you are able to do this then you will feel more upbeat with each passing day. But what if you're someone who's not particularly fond of exercise? What if you're tired of feeling pressured to hit the gym or run a 5K? How can you still get the benefits of exercise? You can, in fact — in much smaller doses.
Exercise as self-care continues to gain popularity, especially as the weather warms. It's an especially good option for those who are living with stress.
Here are some options:
Join a group. Do you enjoy walking but prefer the company of others? Are you more likely to exercise if it's fun? If so, look for a group that suits your interests and goals, from dog walking to dancing to yoga. There may be student organizations or clubs in your campus dedicated to the community that involves moving your limbs around. Google your university + student organizations. You can then find a webpage that lists all the college-sponsored organizations and be able to filter further. If you are unable to find anything look for organizations within the municipal area. Some good examples can be found in the Group Activities section of NAMI's website [Link1] for more ideas.
Intermural sports. Different from a student group or club, intermural sports programs provide students an opportunity to participate in a variety of competitive and recreational sports activities. These sports activities are typically arranged in leagues/teams that compete with other leagues/teams within the university so no need to travel far. Activities available can be traditional sports such as basketball, softball, soccer, volleyball, and flag football, or nontraditional activities such as Ultimate Frisbee, floor hockey, badminton, racquetball, and tennis.
The buddy system. It may seem a little odd to employ the buddy system in college, but sometimes getting another friend involved works. See out of your friends also wants to commit to exercising more frequently (or one that does it routinely already) and ask them if they like to plan with you where you both show up at the Co-Rec to get your sweat on. Now, remember if they say “yes” then the next step is to schedule the specifics. Pick a day/time that works well for both of you and how long you want to be committed. Hold each other accountable for the meeting during this time, and if one of you must cancel try to reschedule it or confirm the commitment you made with each other.
Ayrielle: Ugh. I don’t feel great today; I don’t think I can meet you today to row.
Krista: Oh ok. I hope you feel better. We will row next week, same time – the same place.
This weekend looks great if you want to practice the buddy system – ask your friend today if you want to ride a bike on a local trail this weekend.
