Can You Spare 30 Minutes A Day For Your Health?

While regulating your eating habits, getting sufficient sleep, and drinking an adequate amount of water each day is important, ensuring that you are staying active and moving your body is crucial to your overall mental and physical health.

Exercising, going to the gym, or hiking may not be your forte. Life’s obstacles or responsibilities  may hinder you from becoming or being an avid gym member. You could also possibly be a single mom who puts their eight hours of beauty sleep aside to make sure your little ones are attended to. Maybe in order to make it back to work in time from your 30 minute lunch is to eat at the fast food restaurant across the street from your job. Whatever the case is, things happen and sometimes we do not prioritize our health as we should be.

According to an article, “What Happens to Your Body When You Exercise 30 Minutes Every Day” written by Lauren Manaker for Eating Well magazine, she states, “Among the many steps you may take to keep your body in tip-top shape, staying active may be one of them. After all, including movement in your day is associated with some pretty impressive benefits—even if you can only commit to 30 minutes daily.”

This can be translated to the word “cardio.” What exactly is cardio?

Short for cardiovascular exercise (which is associated with the heart and blood vessels) that involves a physical activity such as running, jogging, walking, dancing, swimming, and more that raises your heart rate and keeps it essentially “healthy.” 

So let’s talk about the physical benefits that come with applying just 30 minutes of your day to cardio.

• First and foremost, it strengthens your heart. It improves blood circulation and increases your blood flow. This also lowers the risk of heart disease.

• It helps manage your weight: Cardio period helps you burn calories. The more you walk, run, dance, swim, or whatever cardio exercise you choose to do, the more calories you burn which equates to weight loss.

• It builds stamina and endurance: The more cardio, the easier it is for you to workout. Why do you think gym instructors or athletes run miles or utilize the stair master before and after a training or workout? 

• It helps lower your cholesterol levels and reduces inflammation.

You can look as good as you want on the outside, but if you’re feeling horrible on the inside then that is a big “no no.”  Cardio has amazing mental and emotional health benefits as well.

• It reduces stress and anxiety: Have you ever been so stressed out that you just couldn’t sit still? So you grabbed your headphones and took a walk around your neighborhood. You blasted your favorite playlist  in your phone and that ten minute walk you said you were going to take, turned into an hour. 

• It increases your energy: Anytime I take a morning stroll with my pup, I come back home ready to start my day. After that walk and I take a relaxing shower, I feel incredibly energized. 

• Your mood is improved: When you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good, your attitude changes - for the better.

• Promotes better sleep: Our brain is filled with endless thoughts a day. When you are under stress, you might have racing thoughts. You may have just broken up with your partner, work might be getting the best of you, or the friendship drama might be exhausting. Inputting  some cardio can help you manage those thoughts and therefore  easing your mind to get some much needed sleep.

I think it is safe to say that setting aside 30 minutes a day for your overall health should be considered. We must prioritize our health because no one is going to do it for us. Before you end your day ask yourself this; “Did I cardio today?”

Source(s):

Lauren Manaker M.S., RDN. “What Happens to Your Body When You Exercise 30 Minutes Every Day.” EatingWell, EatingWell, 31 Oct. 2023, www.eatingwell.com/benefits-of-exercise-30-min-every-day-8384757.