The goal this week is to reduce stress and have fun!
If I know our clients, and I think I do, this one is going to be easy! Now we can’t all be Dee Dee Smith, but let’s look at why it’s important to take a few tips from her in our daily lives and why she might very well be one of the healthiest among us.
Play Time!
Play is defined as anything not work related that you get enjoyment from. The list of examples could really go on forever, but here are a few:
Sports/Active Play - Golf, tennis, volleyball, basketball, swimming, biking, hiking, walking the dog, skiing, dancing
Relational Play - Family games, going to lunch with a friend, sex with spouse (ask James if you have questions about this one), playing video games with kids
Brain Play – Crossword puzzles, reading, puzzles, watching a movie (without multi-tasking it with cooking or cleaning)
Some of these could be in either category, it is mainly important that you are honest with yourself about what brings you enjoyment and relaxation. That is where you will find the health benefits, which are many.
- Stress reduction, including lowering blood pressure even up to 2 hours after “playing”. Lowering stress levels connects to multiple other benefits. Stress causes many health issues, lowering it helps prevent them. A few being sleep problems, hormonal imbalances, digestive issues, and many serious illnesses.
- Improves family unity and relationships
- Improves cognitive skills and memory, which help your brain process through issues. Improving your memory fights off dementia.
- Creates a greater sense of purpose and increases self value.
- Often causes laughter, which releases endorphins!
- Helps children (and adults for that matter) develop many important skills. Decision-making, critical thinking, reasoning, communication, concentration, and improves focus for longer periods of time.
This is the perfect time of year to get this healthy habit kicked off. Our goal this week will be to reduce stress by engaging in some form of play for at least 20 min a day—reading a good book, playing a game with a loved one, enjoying a tennis match or a round of golf, etc. If you are one of those Type A personalities, plan ahead and schedule your “play” time. Your brain and your body will thank you! Have fun!!
12 Weeks Total Recharge
Our 12 Weeks Total Recharge blog series is dedicated to help bring your body to a place of rejuvenation, a strong and lively place. Each week we will focus on a specific topic and provide key information to help achieve the best YOU. You can use the links below to view the previous and next post in the series or you can view all posts here.
Body Basics offers personal training, remote personal training and nutrition counseling at our facility in beautiful downtown Boise. Contact us to discuss how we can help achieve your goals for a better you.
Christine Kling
Co-owner and trainer at Body Basics
Christine's love for life, health and people effects everything she says and does. As a trainer, she strives to truly know her clients in order to encourage and motivate them in their own specific way. As a studio owner, she thoroughly enjoys laughing with her husband while creating a very welcoming atmosphere... Instructing others in the realm of fitness is not just her job but a privilege.