Stay active for #MINDANDBODY

Exercise is so important for our overall health and well-being.

Keeping active helps protect both your physical and mental health. Regular exercise will help you sleep, relax and feel better. Exercise helps reduce stress and boosts your energy levels. It can also be a good way to meet people and get more involved in your community.

See some tips and advice below on improving your mood via HSE.ie.

Physical activity can cause chemical changes in the brain. These changes help to improve your mood.

Your exercise routine

Any exercise is useful, as long as it is suited to your ability and you do enough of it. Exercise should be something you enjoy. There are many different ways to exercise, so find something you like. Otherwise, it will be hard to find the motivation to do it every day. Walking or running is a great way to start on your path to being more physically active for #MINDANDBODY.

Moderate and vigorous activities

• Moderate activities will feel like your heart is beating faster than normal and your breathing is harder than normal.
• Vigorous activities will feel like your heart is beating much faster than normal and breathing is much harder than normal.

Children and young people (aged 2 to 18)

Children and young people should be active for at least 60 minutes every day. This should be at a moderate (average energy) to vigorous (full of energy) level.

Adults (aged 18 to 64)

Adults should be active for at least 30 minutes every day. This should be at moderate intensity on 5 days a week (or 150 minutes a week).

Older people (aged 65 and over)

Older people should be active for at least 30 minutes every day. This should be at a moderate intensity on 5 days a week (or 150 minutes a week). The focus should be on aerobic activity, muscle strengthening and balance.

Adults with disabilities

People with disabilities should be as active as their ability allows. Aim to meet adult guidelines of at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on 5 days a week.

How to get started

Find an activity you can do every day. Try walking instead of travelling by car or public transport. Visit your local park or Waterway and work some family or 'me time' into your daily routine. Research has shown that proximity to water and surrounding ourselves in nature can have a calming influence on our mood.

Build up your fitness

Start at your own pace and aim to build up to 20 or 30 minutes of exercise every day. Improve your motivation by trying group activities or ask a friend to join you.

If you prefer to exercise alone, you can also track your activity and set yourself challenges.

Please note the advice above was sourced on HSE.ie and republished.