Who hasn’t been in a bad mood? Just about nobody. Maybe you’re stressed, bored, lonely, angry, sad, anxious, or just tired. While the ideal thing to do is to exercise when a bad mood rises, most people turn to unhealthy habits like emotional eating or smoking.
Read: Blood Sugar Dangers: Do This Before You Work Out
The bad thing about this? Not only do you instigate an unhealthy cycle of overeating (or doing other unnhealthy things), gaining weight, feeling bad about your unhealthy lifestyle, making your mood worse, doing more bad things to make yourself feel better, and over, and over, and over again.
The great things about working out that mood? When you’re upset, stressed or otherwise not feeling ideal, exercise—and the mood-enhancing endorphins it produces—can be the best thing for you.
So, the next time you feel that mood coming on, identify what you’re feeling and why. Then use the specific ideas below to cure that bad mood with an exercise prescription.
Your mood: Angry
Knock it out with: Kickboxing, boxing, shadowboxing, or martial arts.Whether you follow a kickboxing video or take a group class, you’ll release anger with every punch, kick and jab. Imagine the target of your anger as you do a set of 12 front kicks! Besides getting your anger out you’ll blast calories with these cardio workouts. Any form of martial arts, often overlooked as a form of exercise, will also work. Besides actually making contact with pads, targets, and shields (a major stress and anger releaser!), you’ll gain gaining confidence, discipline, and focus.
Your mood: Bored
Knock it out with: Spinning class, step aerobics, or a new fitness DVDBeat boredom (without food) by taking a high-energy Spinning class at your local gym. Set to great tunes, you’ll be surprised how quickly an hourlong class flies by. Step aerobics is another great workout when you’re bored because it’s always changing. You have to concentrate on the choreography—sort of like learning a simple dance that involves a step. You’ll build skills and feel really accomplished when it’s over! Lastly, head to the library or video rental store and pick up the first workout DVD that looks interesting to you. Do it at home or invite a friend over to try your newest exercise venture!
Your mood: Lonely
Knock it out with: Any group fitness class
Exercising with a group of people who are all following the same routine and all have similar goals can really make you feel like you’re a part of something bigger than yourself. No matter what type of class you choose, there are plenty of reasons why group classes are so popular: They offer social support, a friendly environment and an opportunity to meet people who have similar interests.
Your mood: Depressed
Knock it out with: Outdoor walking, biking, or running
There’s something restorative about nature. Getting outside to breathe in fresh air and admire the scenery can make a world of difference in your perspective. Plus, regular exposure to sunlight can boost your mood and ward off seasonal depression, too. No matter what outdoor pursuit you enjoy (think outside of the box and try canoeing, climbing, or team sports, too), moving your body can help improve your outlook and symptoms.
Read: Gym Time-Wasters To Avoid
Your mood: Stressed
Knock it out with: Mind-body exercises like yoga, Pilates, or Tai chi
Mind-body exercises take focus, patience, and attention. Because of the complexities of maintaining the correct form and breathing, which connects the mind and body, it’s almost impossible to think about your to-do list while you’re in the middle of a good yoga or Pilates class, for example. The quiet, meditative atmosphere in these classes (and videos) allows you to tune in to the present moment—something that the overly stressed should do more often! If you’re thinking that you’re too busy or overwhelmed to try a class, then take advantage of short video workouts that are often broken up into 10- to 30- minute segments.
Don’t You Feel Better?
Have you ever finished a workout and thought to yourself, “I wish I hadn’t done that! I really just wasted my time.” Probably not. Chances are you feel better physically and mentally. Regardless of your specific mood, exercise can be a useful tool to get you back to bust your bad mood and get back to your normal self.
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