Make your bad day better: exercise just a little longer! Extending your normal routine just a bit may increase your satisfaction with life.
There is a direct relationship between exercise and satisfaction
“We found that people’s satisfaction with life was directly impacted by their daily physical activity,” said Jaclyn Maher, graduate student in kinesiology. “The findings reinforce the idea that physical activity is a health behavior with important consequences for daily well-being and should be considered when developing national policies to enhance satisfaction with life.”
Young people have the highest sensitivity to improvements
Researchers took a look at the exercise routines of emerging adults aged 18 to 25. This group has the most sensitive state of well-being, plummeting more quickly in response to external stimuli than any other age group. “Emerging adults are going through a lot of changes; they are leaving home for the first time and attending college or starting jobs,” explained Maher. “As a result, their satisfaction with life can plummet. We decided to focus on emerging adults because they stand to benefit the most from strategies to enhance satisfaction with life.”
All factors were considered, but exercise was key
“Shifts in depression, anxiety and stress would be expected to influence a person’s satisfaction with life at any given point in time,” said David Conroy, professor of kinesiology. “In addition, fatigue can be a barrier to engaging in physical activity, and a high Body Mass Index associated with being overweight may cause a person to be less satisfied in a variety of ways.”
Better moods occurred on days with more exercise
“Based on these findings, we recommend that people exercise a little longer or a little harder than usual as a way to boost satisfaction with life,” stated Conroy.
Sources: MedicalNewsToday, Penn State
