Working Out for Anxiety

In my last post, I discussed shifting my mindset when it comes to working out. I used to think that working out was just to lose weight, and while that can be a healthy goal for some people, I’ve found that it creates an unhealthy experience for me. I’ve tried hard to think of working out as a way to push my body and rejoice in the fact that I can move and take care of my body. Starting at the beginning of this year, I decided to start working out consistently, and I’ve found that not only do I feel better physically, but working out has helped lessen my anxiety. 

According to Better Health, “exercise can improve your sense of control, coping ability and self-esteem…Exercise can distract you from negative thoughts…” By making an effort to work out at least twice a week, I’ve found that having a consistent workout routine has helped my mental health. By making an effort, I’ve been able to gain confidence, improve my sense of control, and cope with anxiety in a healthy way. My anxiety got particularly worse in the spring for numerous reasons, and while sometimes you need a lazy day, I believe my anxiety was getting worse because I allowed myself too many lazy days. It was only when I started going for walks, doing at-home yoga and other workouts off of YouTube, and going to more barre classes that I started feeling better mentally. 

It’s difficult to go from not prioritizing working out to making it a priority. One of the biggest things that’s helped me these past few months has been group barre classes. Admittedly, it helps that I work part-time at a fitness studio, but the structure of a group class has immensely aided my mental and physical health. First, I can’t give myself the excuse of “I’ll just work out later” which I sometimes fall into with at-home workouts. Also, sometimes with anxiety, it’s easy to isolate yourself; however, by going to a group fitness class, you are socializing, however small it may seem. Lastly, taking a class can push you beyond what you think you’re physically capable of, therefore you gain confidence when you make it through a class. 

If you struggle with anxiety and— like me— fall into the bad habit of giving yourself too many lazy days to cope, I encourage you to come up with and stick to a workout schedule. Even if you just start with one workout a week, it’ll be a great way to get moving and cope with your anxiety. Working out alone can’t make your anxiety disappear, but it can help alleviate stress and help you build confidence.

---