A new month, a new Wellness Challenge, friends! This month, we’re working on exercise. Don’t forget, CEEK’s new monthly Wellness Challenges include both personal and professional challenges. The personal challenges are posted on the first of the month. The professional challenges are posted the first Wednesday of every month. So keep an eye out for both!

Now, let’s get to the personal challenge! It’s October! The season is changing and we have been social distancing for over 6 months now. It has been challenging for many as we are having to find new routines. Sometimes one of the first routines to be dropped is exercise, especially when gyms are closed.

Let’s take this month to bring exercise back into our routine.

Make time in your schedule to exercise for the next 30 days.

Exercise…it does the body, mind, and spirit good. Exercise can help you improve emotional and mental health by reducing stress and anxiety, enhancing self-esteem, and generally improving your mental state of mind. The World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer recommendations for adults:

• At least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week or at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week.
• For additional health benefits, engage in physical activity beyond the equivalent of 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week.
• Muscle-strengthening activities should be done with major muscle groups on 2 or more days a week.

Does that sound like a lot? The key to sustaining any exercise program is finding something that you like to do. Dance, hike, bike, run, walk, yoga, swim, play tennis, jump rope, play tag, lift weights, or whatever gets you active. Finding an activity partner is another valuable way to keep up with an exercise program. Find someone you can exercise with who will hold you accountable when you don’t feel like showing up. It is much harder to skip a workout if you know that someone is waiting for you!

Don’t sacrifice the important for the perpetually urgent. Make time in your schedule to exercise and let exercise be your stress reliever. Remember any exercise is better than no exercise. Don’t just find time to exercise; rather, make the time to exercise. You will be happy you did. CEEK…a Better Way!