My partner often comments when I’ve been a little grumpier than usual by saying, “you should go on a bike ride.”
It really works wonders on the soul (and the more physical heart and lungs) getting out for a spin in the fresh air.
Earlier today, I walked across several neighborhoods and through an entire large park to get to the city center for some shopping, all in the span of 40 minutes. If you feel like walking is ineffective at getting you places, you may want to consider advocating for walkable cities.
however, both during and for two or three hours after exercising, the emotional effect is very negative. i feel much more anxious, prone to negative thoughts, self-critical, pessimistic, sometimes angry.
the benefits are definitely real but I feel like I am paying a very large cost to get them. i've tried lots of different forms of exercise and they all have this effect if i push to a reasonable level of intensity.
i'm wondering if anyone else has had this experience and managed to find a place where exercising makes them feel happy.
Have they all been in a gym environment? If so, it could be the reason. Going to the gym in the winter, I do get the benefits but it doesn't do as much for my mood as sports outdoors when the weather is nice.
You could even try the opposite, exercising in a spinning won't have the same effect.
I can also recommend easy, restorative yoga exercises, which is the lightest exercise there is, but it will help you with: sitting too much, improve sleep, stretch and reduce stress.
Both are fine for the soul :)
(OK only some exercise, and usually I already like it while I'm doing it, I just don't want to go out to do it.)
I exercise to work up a thirst.