What does the word EXERCISE mean to you? For me its a sense of dread!

You may be one of those people I consider lucky and really enjoy exercise and fitness. I envy people I know that LOVE their morning gym work out or feel cranky if they don't run several times a week!

This has never been me, I have always struggled with exercise due to not being 'good' at sport at school, never picked for the team and never really finding a type of fitness that I enjoyed.

We all know that movement/ exercise is good for our physical wellbeing but it can really help us mentally too.

What impact does physical activity have on mental wellbeing?

Engaging in regular physical activity offers numerous benefits for both mental and physical health. It can:

• Help you cope with stress more effectively
• Promote better quality sleep
• Lift your mood and reduce feelings of anxiety or sadness
• Boost your self-esteem and sense of achievement
• Offer opportunities to enjoy nature and the outdoors
• Encourage social interaction and help you build new relationships
• Ease symptoms of depression and anxiety
• Support memory, focus, and overall brain health
• Strengthen your heart, muscles, and bones
• Lower the risk of chronic health conditions such as heart disease

Sounds good right? - but What if being active feels difficult?

Sometimes, being physically active isn’t easy—and it might not always improve how we feel. In some cases, it can even make things worse, especially if:

• You're doing an activity you don’t enjoy
• You’re pushing yourself too hard
• Exercise is tied up with challenges like an eating disorder or body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
• There can also be barriers outside of your control, such as:
• Living in an area without safe or accessible places to be active
• Financial challenges that limit your options
• Health conditions or medication side effects that make movement harder
• Past negative experiences with physical activity, including stigma or lack of support  - when you're feeling like this, it’s understandable to feel frustrated by advice to “just get moving”

What I realise now is that exercise doesn't have to be running, gym or fitness classes; it could be walking, shopping, gardening, dancing, housework - anything that gets you moving and helps shift your focus to how you’re feeling right now, which can give your mind a break from stress and negativity. Its about finding what works for you, at your own pace.

Here is a video from MIND which offers five gentle suggestions to help you get active in a way that feels right for you—and supports your self-care at the same time.

I think I will always feel the same about the THOUGHT of doing exercise  - even though I know I will feel better afterwards! I never feel like going to my pilates class - but I always feel so relaxed by the end of it.

I also know that if today I go out for a short walk then thats enough and another day I might walk a bit further - and maybe even jog! well I said maybe!