Active Recovery Life

Shared from .mentalhealthminute
Stress has positive benefits if managed properly, because it helps us become stronger in all areas of our lives—physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and otherwise. Even though stress can seem overwhelming at times, the real issue is not the presence of stress, but rather the absence of intermittent rest. We need to set boundaries for ourselves and make sure there’s a healthy balance between pushing ourselves to reach our potential, as well as giving ourselves ample time for rest and renewal.

Regular physical activity provides positive forms of stress that keep us healthy as we age. A lack of regular cardiovascular exercise results in a reduction of the heart’s ability to efficiently pump blood an average of 1 percent a year between the ages of 30 and 70, and even faster after that! In addition, a lack of regular strength training leads to a loss in lean muscle mass by 1 percent every year after age 30.

These startling effects can be reversed, even very late in life. In several compelling studies, a group of nursing home residents, with an average age of 87 years, were able to gain lean muscle mass after engaging in a strength training program three times weekly for 45 minutes per session, in just 10 weeks!

It's important to understand that stress is not inherently bad or something to be avoided completely; Rather it is essential to health when balanced with the right amount of rest, allowing us to positively grow in many aspects of our lives. This process is called supercompensation and translates into: The harder you push yourself, the more you signal your body to grow during the following recovery period. The only limiting factor is how much discomfort you can tolerate!

Posted • .mentalhealthminute With the new year fast approaching, many people have started making resolutions. I have always believed that the beginning is one of the most important parts of any goal, project, task, or activity. It sets the tone for what’s to come and, in many ways, has the potential to define its success. While starting is sometimes the hardest part, having a plan can help ensure that the beginning is on a solid footing. It’s also important to remember that it is okay to make mistakes—Everyone does, especially in the early stages! Instead, learn from your errors and adjust accordingly as you go along. After all, it’s your journey and you have total control of where it will take you.

So have courage, have confidence, and have conviction as you take that very first step towards your goals for this year and beyond!