How are you feeling today? Pumped and ready for action? Or down in the dumps and unmotivated? We experience different emotions every day – sometimes multiple head spaces in one day – and just as your emotions can affect what you want to eat, they can also impact your workout motivation. Rather than let your mood limit your exercise options, let it broaden them! Here’s how to work with your mood to figure out the best exercise to do:
You’re working day and night on a big project, or rushed off your feet at home and can’t think about exercise, let alone the spare time to do it.
Fit match: Try something that gets you outdoors. Experts say “at the end of a busy day, you might feel too exhausted to exercise but it’s often mental fatigue, not physical. So try going for a walk with your partner and your dog, or take your kids to the park for a run-around.” Another approach is to squeeze in a sweaty workout in a short space of time. If you’re a regular exerciser and only have 15 minutes, do a five-minute warm-up, run as hard as you can for 10 minutes, then cool down.
Whether it’s an argument with your partner or work is frustrating you, you’re angry and can’t concentrate on your usual workout.
Fit match: Go for high-intensity exercises. It’s a great way to relax and sometimes you need to go really hard to get rid of that negative energy. Try circuit training or do intervals but if you’re at the gym, do 30 seconds of high-intensity pedalling and 90 seconds of low-intensity pedalling. Anything you should avoid when you’re in a rage? Steer clear of boxing classes until you’ve calmed down as research finds that venting via a punching bag actually increased angry feelings.
It’s that golden feeling – you’re confident, on top of the world, full of positive energy and ready for action.
Fit match: Now’s the perfect time to try something new, whether that’s squash, touch footy, rock climbing or kayaking. Alternatively, try pushing yourself a bit harder in your usual workout. Embrace those periods when you’re feeling great to push yourself harder. For example, if you usually run for 20 minutes build up gradually to avoid injury and see if you do your run a bit faster.
Life’s a bit of a drag at the moment, and you’re too upset to do anything active.
Fit match: You may not feel like it, but being active is likely to lift your spirits. Research shows that exercise can help mild to moderate depression and more rhythmical exercise rather than stop-start classes tend to be better, so try walking or swimming. A yoga class is another good idea. Yoga has been shown to reduce anxiety levels – the psychological and wellbeing benefits of it are well known.
That peaceful, calm feeling is lovely – but it doesn’t always lend itself to a sweaty workout.
Fit match: When you’re having a mellow moment, it’s a really great time to focus on flexibility. Turn on some music and do half and hour of stretching at home. It’s wonderfully relaxing and important for those with sedentary lifestyles. Most people suffer from tight hamstrings and lower back, so incorporate stretches that work those areas. If you wear high heels all day or spend lots of time hunched over at a desk, it’s important to stretch out your calves or chest, too.
You’ve hit a plateau this week and just can’t face up to that walk around the block for the fourth day in a row.
Fit match: The best way to avoid that ‘can’t be bothered’ feeling is to make physical activity a part of your daily life. That way, you don’t think about it as something you have to do, it just becomes habitual and something that you do naturally. For example, walk the kids to school every day, take up gardening, walk to a cafe with friends. If it’s a lifestyle change you’re more likely to stick to it. Look out for some local dance classes too – or just put on some music. Dancing is brilliant exercise that most people often don’t think about.