By: Madelyn Archambault, Francis College of Engineering Well-Being Leader

One of the best ways to support both your physical and mental health is through exercise. The amount of physical exercise recommended by the American Heart Association is 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity. For some people, these numbers are highly achievable, but for those who aren’t used to being physically active, these numbers can seem daunting. On campus and in everyday life, there are many ways you can help ease your way into a better relationship with exercise. 

One of the questions you can ask yourself on days when exercising seems particularly difficult is, ‘what would the benefits be?’” Being active is known to release endorphins, which are chemicals in your brain that can help you feel good. Exercising regularly can also help relieve tension and boost cardiovascular health. 

Everyone’s level of comfort is different when it comes to exercise, but there are so many activities willing to meet you where you are. Clubs like rock climbing, women’s rugby, and swimming encourage students of all skill levels and experience to participate. If club sports are too much of a commitment, group fitness is another great place to start. I have started going to yoga on Mondays at the Campus Recreation Center (CRC) and I have found that it is a great way to get some movement in while giving myself the chance to recenter at the beginning of the week. While I may not be able to do every move, the judgement-free zone allows me to work at my own pace. The CRC offers a variety of programs at a range of times. You can learn more about them here: https://www.uml.edu/campusrecreation/programs/. 

Starting small is the best way to avoid burning yourself out when making a sudden life change. During weeks when I felt like I had no time to go to the gym, I would go to YouTube and search for “10 minute workouts for beginners”. This allowed me to set a goal I could accomplish in a reasonable time and provided some movement for the day. It was also an easy way to give my brain a quick break from work while still being in the comfort of my own bedroom. Remember, any exercise is better than no exercise, but it is important to forgive yourself for the days when you can’t work up the motivation to exercise.