Beat The Lockdown Blues: How Moving Can Improve Your Mood

Did you know that just 15 to 20 minutes of exercise a day provides significant health benefits? In the last year and a half, the lockdown has had us sheltered in our homes, but it’s time to get moving again. If you live in Accora Village, there are plenty of activities to get you up and back at it. You can register for our regularly scheduled sports programming at the Accora Centre, head to one of our pools for a swim, or take advantage of the many nearby parks. 

Here are a few ways that staying active can improve your everyday life and help you beat the lockdown blues!

Improve Mental Health

Mental illness is a growing epidemic in Canada, and one of the most under-utilized medicines is physical activity. Getting into the habit of exercising – especially to combat depression – can be difficult. When you’re fatigued, you tend to be more motivated to nap than to go for a run. However, by getting physically active, you can increase your energy levels and release feel-good chemicals in your brain, like endorphins. There are many ways to start slow, such as taking your pet for a walk at Andrew Haydon Park or participating in solo activities like kayaking on the Ottawa River. When you get moving, even for just a few minutes a day, your depression and anxiety can be reduced, and your self-esteem and confidence will begin to grow. 

Relieve Stress

Physical exercise is proven to lower stress by reducing stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. When there are less of these hormones being released into your body during the ups and downs of your life, you will be more emotionally prepared to take on stressful situations. 

To top it off, movement combats fatigue, so you’ll have the energy to face the challenges in your life and overcome them. At the end of the day, overcoming challenges and feeling accomplished because of it will make you feel happier. Want a real challenge? Come try the Bench Fit circuit at Accora Village. Building up a sweat and working your muscles makes you feel stronger physically and mentally. 

Feel Connected

A strange thing happens when you take part in group activities where you move together, such as yoga, AquaFit, or dancing. People who synchronize their movements tend to feel more connected and, as a result, readily willing to interact with each other. They participate in conversations and are more likely to cooperate together. Basically, this is the foundation of a community. Accora Village offers a number of exercise classes that will build this sense of connection and get you moving.

Boost Creativity

Every day, scientific studies find links between physical activity and boosted creativity. It’s not just the environment that you’re in. Granted, a walk can expose you to new things, invoke new feelings, and lead you to situations that provoke profound thoughts. But even moving in your apartment can give you that extra burst of creativity that you won’t get while laying on your couch watching television. As your body moves, more blood, oxygen, and nutrients flow to your brain. If you’re working on a problem or trying to overcome a creative block, multiple solutions may present themselves to you – this is called divergent thinking – and your brain will help you settle on the most logical solution, otherwise known as convergent thinking. Researchers found that in the same environment, people who exercised showed more divergent and convergent thinking than those who didn’t. 

Are you ready to get moving? With onsite fitness and sports equipment, pools, and recreational classes aplenty, Accora Village offers a variety of facilities and activities designed to improve your mood. Plus, take advantage of our nearby pet-friendly parks and trails to make every day that much more fulfilling and rewarding! Contact us today for more information about our community and many amenities.