Sometimes you just have to get physical. Nothing else will do. Your body craves it; your soul needs it. Okay...I'm not talking about having sex
(although of course, humans -- women as well as men -- need that too). I'm talking about working out -- sweating out
those toxins, flooding your body with endorphins.
Lots of
ways you can do it. When I'm not
swimming, my favorites include riding my very old (found for free on the curb)
stationary bike, interspersed with a little weight lifting, followed by a quick
sprint, closing with some of my preferred Yoga poses -- Warrior and Downward Dog and Tree. (Is it evident that I just had a good
workout??) A satisfying Yoga class in a
good studio can also work wonders. Some people
love Pilates. A bike ride is also fun
and satisfying. Lots of choices.
The
point is to do something, let the physical activity take over, let your brain
have a mind of its own without you controlling it, let the thoughts go wherever
they go. As you start working up a sweat,
you actually sweat out toxins, and magically while all this is happening, your
body becomes flooded with endorphins and other neurotransmitters.
When
you've finished, you feel like you could solve every single problem that the
world might have -- and if you're a concerned citizen and/or if you're going
through a messy or heart wrenching divorce, you have plenty of problems to
choose from. As a divorce attorney and
family law mediator, I can't guarantee you any results but I can pretty
reliably assure you that you will feel better, more centered, more balanced,
more able to handle whatever comes your way.
Multiple
scientific studies show that in addition to working out tension, exercising
increases our resilience, which helps to sustain us, for example as we're going
through a long and difficult divorce. Exercising
also seems helpful in reducing extreme stress and also depression -- both
common for people going through a divorce.
To thrive during and after your divorce, I recommend:
- regular exercise -- at times pushing your physical limits
- a good support network -- old friends, new friends, family
- a great divorce attorney and/or family law mediator -- a lawyer who listens to you and who you trust
Sources:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-does-exercise-make-us-feel-good/
http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/13/health/endorphins-exercise-cause-happiness/
http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2016/06/how-exercise-shapes-you-far-beyond-the-gym.html