Dreading the thought of returning to the office after a restful weekend? You’re not alone; in an international Monster.com poll, 78 percent of respondents reported experiencing the so-called "Sunday Night Blues,” with 47 percent saying they get it "really bad."
To help combat this pervasive condition, we provide you with the motivation to look forward to the work week. With simple quick tips and advice from successful entrepreneurs and top experts, “Sunday Night Blues” is sure to cure what ails you.
This week, we discuss how exercise can help you alleviate the symptoms of your case of the Sunday Night Blues. In a previous blog post, we delineated how regular exercise can benefit the life of an entrepreneur by boosting energy levels and serving as a creative outlet.
However, did you know that exercise can also help you relieve feelings of stress and anxiety (i.e. Sunday Night Blues)? Just ask psychotherapist Joyce Marter, who, in a Huffington Post article titled “9 Ways to Beat the Sunday Night Blues”, says:
Exercise to burn off the anxiety and increase endorphins. Exercise is nature's antidepressant and will also encourage a good night's sleep. Even a brisk walk around the block will clear out the cobwebs.”
This claim is backed up science; in the article “Depression and anxiety: Exercise eases symptoms”, Mayo Clinic staff list several psychological and emotional benefits of exercising:
- Gain confidence. Meeting exercise goals or challenges, even small ones, can boost your self-confidence. Getting in shape can also make you feel better about your appearance.
- Take your mind off worries. Exercise is a distraction that can get you away from the cycle of negative thoughts that feed anxiety and depression.
- Get more social interaction. Exercise and physical activity may give you the chance to meet or socialize with others. Just exchanging a friendly smile or greeting as you walk around your neighborhood can help your mood.
- Cope in a healthy way. Doing something positive to manage anxiety or depression is a healthy coping strategy. Trying to feel better by drinking alcohol, dwelling on how badly you feel, or hoping anxiety or depression will go away on its own can lead to worsening symptoms.
So next time you feel the stress of the upcoming week hitting you, go for a jog, lift some weights, or take a walk; your innermost self will thank you.