Cardio Buddy: Running as an Escape from Stress

There is no easy way when you’re starting a new fitness routine. As a matter of fact, any kind of beginning has its own unique rough patch. However, if you’re trying to start on running as a form of exercise, your wellbeing is in for a really wild ride because it really is a hard and difficult road to begin with. If you’re trying to find the right time or moment for this kind of exercise, either you’re planning for a jog or a marathon run, now is the time to do so because there will never be the right time at the right place, it’s not a kind of destiny. You make it your own. 

Running is a form of escapism, and though some consider gaming or reading as their escape, we always count health as a part of it. Stress is one of the biggest factors to consider when you’re planning to exercise. Since most of us are busy with our day-to-day affairs, we gradually begin to see the deterioration of our health when we lose track of it. Stress does not only result in hair loss or damage, but it also affects our overall well-being if we do not maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle, especially if we don’t tend to meditate as a form of exercise. Stress strikes every now and then. Here are some of the effects of stress to our overall health in the long run:

• Increased risk of heart disease. Since we tend to “keep it all to ourselves,” we forget to scream and form some sort of release when we feel stressed. Because of this, we have that tight feeling in our chest, which is just one sign that we are stressed and that taking a break is okay and nothing to be worried about. Call for a me-time. 
  
  
• Having trouble sleeping. Stress also affects how we sleep and our sleeping patterns. If we’re stressed, we are most likely to fall asleep when the sun is already up, or we keep on waking up in the ungodliest of hours. This adds to our daily problems and also takes up additional punches to our focus.
  
  
• Depression. If we don’t control our stress level, it will control us, and eventually, we will lose focus and fail to manage our daily affairs. Nobody wants a distracted lifestyle, nor does anyone want to let stress take over their lives. Self-esteem is well-connected to stress, and if we’re not handling it well enough, it affects how we view ourselves, which leads to self-degradation.
  
  
• Increased blood pressure and headaches. They all go together. Headaches are usually connected to how high our blood pressure is, which is sometimes not-so-so for the most part because we won’t be able to function well, nor are we able to focus on our tasks at hand.
  
  
• Digestive issues like ulcers. Not all of us get them, but for most people, they tend to feel the effects of stress inside of them, especially in their digestive system. 

So the ultimate question still is: how can running effectively help us escape stress and its effects?

Cardio exercises are a great way to release the stress that we are feeling. Some consider jump roping or swimming, while some go for a run.

Running calms you down by stimulating endorphin release, the feel-good chemical in the brain. It's also a natural painkiller that can help you relax. This is why a lot of people are fond of running because it boosts their mood, and since you will be running outdoors, you will be able to not only communicate with other people, making it a sociable workout, but you also get your daily dose of vitamin D. 

Cortisol is a known stress hormone. Your blood pressure equates to how high your cortisol levels are, as well as your heart rate. Running reduces this stress hormone, making you more calm, alert, and aware. Cortisol isn’t necessarily a bad thing to have, but having an increased level of cortisol will put you at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases as well as hypertension. Running prevents this by using up excess adrenaline in the bloodstream that also helps us recover after stressful situations. Because of this, running will make you healthy, creating a strong immune system against sickness, since it pushes out bacteria and pathogens out of your lungs and airways, as well as decreases chronic inflammation inside our body. 

Now that we have proven why running is an essential part of building a healthier lifestyle, it’s time for Garmin to help you make sure every run is as beneficial as the last. And that is through the Forerunner 255S—an overall smartwatch for your overall health.

The Forerunner 255S will give you an overview of your data from the past days, such as sleep, HRV status, and your daily workouts. This will help you ease up because you already know the stats you need to know at the start of your day. Additionally, the Forerunner 255S lasts up to 12 days in smartwatch mode and 26 hours in GPS mode, making it a very good companion during long runs or any other activity that needs you to stay connected for a long period.

If you’re worried about getting sweaty when you run, don’t be, because the Forerunner 255S is made with sweat-ready materials, easy-to-use buttons, and a silicon band that will not fall off as you run with or without intensity. It’s amazing how this smartwatch can do anything and everything as you run towards your goals!

Forerunner 255S also has a lot of features that you don’t want to miss out on. One is the morning review through which you can get an overview of the things you did yesterday, as well as patterns and trends on datas since the day you started. With an HRV status, you will be able to see your heart rate variability before, during, and after workouts. Garmin Coach is another feature that will be useful for every Garmin user as it guides you and helps you create adaptive training plans. 

Forerunner 255S also features a running power application that will help you know how much power you’re applying to the road as you run. With recovery time, Garmin will help you know how long before your next HIITs or marathon runs to avoid stressing out your body as well as over-fatiguing. Forerunner 255S is also a good watch for women as it has an application that tracks monthly periods. Stress tracking is another feature of Forerunner 255S that will help you know if you need to take a breather, a relaxing moment to calm you and your nerves down. 

If you feel like you’re lost or that the Forerunner 255S detects that there’s something wrong, it will notify you and will help you contact emergency services. Moreover, with the safety and tracking features, you can share your location with your friends and family, so that they might be able to see where you are, especially when you’re feeling lost or in an unknown place.

Learn to love running and keep your body healthy and fit with Garmin!