The emotional toll divorce takes can drag down your energy levels, lower your overall health and shatter your self-esteem. You might have a hard time getting out of bed, motivating yourself to work and making it to routine meetings with your Raleigh divorce lawyer. While that’s all perfectly normal for women who are worried about custody agreements, property division and everything else divorce entails, you can cheat the system a little and improve your outlook by investing a fraction of your day in heart-healthy exercise.
What Does Exercise do for a Woman’s Body?
Fitness experts insist that a little exercise goes a long way to boost your mood. You’ll also enjoy feeling more energetic and an improving your sense of self-worth… so grab a pair of sneakers and get ready to battle the blues.
Carving Out Time to Exercise
During divorce, you’re busy. There are meetings and phone calls to your Raleigh divorce lawyer, kids to shuttle off to school and dinners to be made. The good news? Squeezing in a few minutes of exercise can work wonders for your mood—and your overall health.
10-Minute Blues Buster: Jumping Rope
1. Warm up for one minute by jogging in place while swinging your arms.
2. Stretch each thigh for 15 seconds by holding your ankle behind your bottom. Reach for your toes (while standing or sitting) for 15 seconds, and stretch your calves by leaning forward with one heel on the ground.
3. Jump rope at your own pace for five minutes. Play some music or sing your favorite childhood rhyme (Miss Susie, anyone?) to make your workout a little more enjoyable.
4. Repeat all the stretches you did after the warm-up, but hold each for twice as long. Run through the stretches again for good measure.
Lunch Break Mood Booster: A Brisk Walk
1. Warm up for a minute with a little jogging in place. Get those knees up and swing your arms to encourage blood flow.
2. Stretch your thighs, hamstrings and calves using the techniques outlined above.
3. Walk quickly to the nearest exit and keep going. Move at a pace that leaves you feeling breathy, but not out-of-breath. Once you’ve been walking for 10 minutes, turn around and head back in.
4. Stretch and cool down the same way you would after a 10-minute workout.
Weekend Pick-Me-Up: Hike, Jog, Bike or Swim
When you’ve got a little more time and you’re not bogged down by work—and there’s little chance of a meeting with your Raleigh divorce lawyer, a court date or a scheduled play date for the kids—spend at least an hour doing some exercise that you enjoy. Don’t forget to warm up, stretch and cool down to avoid injury, and most of all, do something that’s fun so it doesn’t seem like exercise.
