top of page
Subscribe to True-Potential *Receive the free Personal Devotion Tool, which will refresh your times with God.

Thanks for subscribing.

By subscribing to True-Potential you consent to our privacy policy and to receive emails from True-Potential. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Manage the impact of stress by getting active.

Woman in purple leggings jumps on mountain top

In the previous posts, we have learned we can manage the impact of stress by changing our perspective, and learning what we can control. In this post, you will learn how physical activity can help you manage the impact of stress and three practical ways you can incorporate physical activity into your life, with small steps, the help of friends, and fun.  


Last year, my husband took me to see the Swan Lake Ballet. While the dancing was beautiful, the live orchestra stole my breath. Every instrument worked together to produce a perfect symphony, which led me to think about how God created us: three parts working together to form our being. Body, soul, and spirit, each part of our being is remarkable. Caring for our physical bodies is an investment that will lead to benefits in both our mental and spiritual health. Maintaining a healthy diet, getting adequate rest, and physical activity are all components that keep our bodies well, we will, however, be focusing on the benefits of physical activity.  


Body, soul and spirit, each part of our being is remarkable.

"All parts of the body, if used in moderation and exercised in labours to which each is accustomed, become thereby healthy and well developed and age slowly; but if they are unused and idle, they become liable to disease, defective in growth and age quickly" – Hippocrates. 

  

As seen in this quote by Hippocrates, who died in 375 BC, the benefits of physical activity have been known for many years. Research has shown that regular physical activity can reduce the normal effects of age on your body, decrease your risk of developing chronic conditions, and allow your body to age slower and live longer. When it comes to managing stress, it has been shown that regular physical activity can build our resilience and resistance to stress. When we get active our bodies produce feel-good chemicals known as endorphins which help to reduce stress. Physical activity also improves our cardiovascular, digestive health, and immunity – which help to protect our bodies against stress.  

 

When it comes to managing stress, it has been shown that regular physical activity can build our resilience and resistance to stress.

The details and responsibilities of life can easily overwhelm and drown out our need to get active, I too am a good (or not-so-good) example of that.  There have been multiple weeks where I have neglected rest and exercise because of a busy schedule, which in turn soured my mood and made me very susceptible to stress.  I have found that taking care of my body is an ongoing process that requires intentional effort, but it does not need to be hard. Here are some practical tips you can use. 


Start small.  

In his book All it takes is a goal, Jon Acuff suggested that small easy steps are the best approach to making big changes in your life. How can you start taking care of your body? What is the first step you need to take? I decided to apply that approach to my fitness and started with a goal of participating in four workout sessions in one week. Once I maintained that for a few weeks, I upgraded that goal to participate in 16 workout sessions in a month. It is important to note that these goals are unique to my situation and fit into my context. Find the one step that fits in your context, and remember one is always more than none. That one moment you spent taking care of your body is far more than the none you took yesterday.  


Invite a friend. 

People have a natural drive to join a community. We function better within accountability because we either rise or fall to the standard set for us, accountability gives us something to rise to. By inviting a friend, you are not only receiving value, but you are also adding value, which is a core need for us as people. Look at Jesus’ example when He sent out the disciples two by two.  


Make it fun.  

Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine. . . 

Fun and joy are good for the heart and body. Find ways to make caring for your body fun in a way that fits your personality and context.  


Coach U 

What is one step you can take to commit to a habit of regular exercise?  

Who can you invite along your journey? How can you support them in return? 

Think of one fun activity you can do, do it with a friend.  


Disclaimer policy: All True-Potential publications are written to assist with growth and discovery, the content of this publication should be used according to our disclaimer policy. Please refer to our disclaimer policy for more information. 

© 2023 Ivan Venter, All Rights Reserved. 


Sources:

Comments


Subscribe to True-Potential *Receive the free Personal Devotion Tool, which will refresh your time with God.

Thanks for submitting!

By subscribing to True-Potential you consent to our privacy policy and to receive emails from True-Potential. You can unsubscribe at any time.

bottom of page