Jump Start Jan: Happiness Boosters Day 3

It’s Day 3 of our week of ways to boost your happiness levels, and today is one of the biggest mood boosters of all: exercise.

Physical activity is good for us, we all know that. It’s just that often we don’t get around to doing any. We put it off, or we don’t make time for it in the first place.

Nearly all of us could benefit from being more active. It improves mood, reduces stress and anxiety, and can help you to sleep better too.

Today, try to take at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise, and ideally do one hour. If you’re completely unfit, just do something very gentle such as walking, and if you have any known health problems speak to your doctor. Warm up first with a few stretches, and remember to warm down afterwards as well.

The weather forecast today was grim, so exercise indoors if you like. Use existing fitness equipment, run on the spot, go up and down the stairs a few times, do a fitness DVD or Blu-Ray workout, or find an exercise class on YouTube. There’s still plenty you can do, even if you don’t feel like going outside.

I’ve done a warm up and some core strength exercises already today, and later I’ll be getting on the exercise bike in front of some trashy TV or an action movie.

What are you going to get up to?