3 reasons to incorporate at least 3 workouts in your weekly routine

Getting into a workout routine can be tricky, especially if you lead a busy life. But the incredible health benefits of regular exercise make it completely worth your while. Regular exercise is excellent for keeping both your physical and mental health in check. Here are 3 reasons you should try to include at least 3 workouts in your weekly routine...  

You’ll improve your overall healthOur bodies are made to move, so it’s no secret that exercise improves your overall health. Exercise boosts your blood circulation, improves insulin activity, strengthens your muscles and heart, increases blood flow, and helps maintain general good health. In some cases, something as serious as heart disease can be prevented or controlled with regular exercise. Strength training, on the other hand, builds muscle and promotes healthy joints as you age. This type of exercise helps decrease arthritis pain and can improve glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes. The good news? You don’t have to start working out for hours on end, every single day, to reap the benefits of regular exercise. Research has shown that just three days of moderate to high intensity exercise per week can have dramatic effects on your overall health. The trick is to find something that works for you. You’re more likely to stick to something if it’s convenient. And, if you’re more comfortable working out in the comfort of your own home, try investing in home-gym equipment. Renting equipment from a company like Striide is a great way to keep things interesting, as you’ll be able to swap out your gear regularly. With Striide, you can rent equipment and work out from home for as little as R549 a month. 

You’ll feel more productiveWhile there are many well-documented physical benefits of engaging in regular exercise, another great reason to get moving is that it will help boost productivity. Research has shown that exercise improves brain function. People who are physically active tend to score higher on cognitive tests than those who live sedentary lifestyles. It’s also been proven that there is a link between physical fitness, brain function, and reduced stress at work. When you exercise, you increase the blood flow to your brain. As your blood flow increases, your brain is exposed to more oxygen and nutrients. This also induces the release of beneficial proteins that keep brain cells (neurons) healthy, and promote their growth. Basically, when you move, your mind functions better than if you were to stay still all day.Next time you’re experiencing brain fog, try getting up and getting moving. 

You’ll improve sleep qualityRegular exercise has a major impact on the amount of deep sleep you get. Deep sleep is also known as slow wave sleep, a sleep that affords the brain and the body an opportunity to rejuvenate with virtually no interruption. The exact correlation between exercise and deep sleep is still mostly unknown, but it could be linked to the way we use our energy during the day. Thanks to our fast-paced lives, our brains tend to struggle to wind down, messing up our body’s internal clock. We stay up later because we can’t switch off. This creates stress and we don’t sleep well, waking up feeling unrested and fatigued only to repeat the cycle. But, when you exercise regularly, you increase the energy you have in the day, which in turn helps you be more productive. You also improve your mental state by reducing stress, tiring your body as opposed to just your mind. Next time you’re struggling to sleep, try incorporating exercise into your day. When you start exercising regularly, you’ll start to reap the benefits almost immediately. It may seem like a challenge now, but the most difficult part is getting started. Once you’ve conquered the first step, it’ll be impossible not to feel like you’re on top of the world.