And as most athletes know, exercise can ease the strains of the day, no matter how bad. Why? When we’re stressed, we have a visceral, physical reaction: increased heart rate, sweaty palms, and rising blood pressure. Take a walk or go for a run regularly and those physical symptoms lessen.
“Healthy exercise reduces heart rate and blood pressure, and some studies suggest that it alleviates psychological stress,” says Raison “It’s one of the best things you can do to ‘tune up’ your stress response.”
Cory Leahy started a new job, began major renovations on her home, and moved into her parents’ house with her husband—all at the same time. After six months, she’d had enough.
“I sought out a running program because I needed something that I could commit to that would act as a stress release,” she says. “It was a great help, and I ran my first half marathon five months later.”
“Extreme exercise, however, is not good for the body,” says Raison. “You can abuse exercise, pushing those stress systems to a point where you don’t feel good anymore.”
But don’t feel you have to stop training for a marathon or other endurance races—just train smart and don’t overdo it. Following a well-designed plan will keep your stress levels in check. And while you’re exercising regularly and eating right, do something even simpler to reduce stress. Sleep at least eight hours or more each night to reduce excess cortisol and rebalance hormones, says Thacker. In the end, a healthy amount of stress is natural. It may even get you that age-group award you’ve always wanted.
“I really love race days because of that extra competitive spark in the air,” says Leahy. “I find that kind of stress helps with meeting a goal. Like my mom always told me, ‘Nothing is worth doing unless you’re quaking in your boots when you start.’ ”
Stress Symptoms.
If you experience any of these common physical symptoms, you may be suffering from stress as always, check with your doctor to rule out more serious conditions. To assess just how stressed out you are, use the Mayo Clinic’s interactive tool.
