![]() |
Exercise Information |
|
|
Strategies for Alleviating the Boredom Associated with Exercise
Just about every expert in the ADD field will tell you that exercise is one of the best ADD management strategies there is. According to the book Delivered from Distraction: "When a person exercises, she sets in motion a cascade of events that her brain loves. She sends more blood to her brain. With more blood comes more oxygen. Exercise also stimulates the release of a plethora of nutrients, hormones, chemical precursors of neurotransmitters, growth factors and cleansing agents that bathe the brain in precisely what it needs to function at its best." From Delivered from Distraction by Edward Hallowell, M.D. and John Ratey, M.D. Copyright 2005. Page 219. And in addition to the health and focus benefits, exercise feels good. So why don't we do it more? For many adults with ADD, the answer to that question is "boredom". When exercise becomes boring for an ADDer, it becomes something to avoid. Here are 4 strategies for alleviating the boredom associated with exercise: 1. Get out of the Gym Many ADDers join gyms with a lot of excitement, only to find that their enthusiasm wears out quickly. Being on a stationary bike, treadmill, or stair climber for 30 minutes begins to seem like torture after a while. Instead of feeling forced to get your exercise at this gym, take these activities outside. Walk or bike around the neighborhood, or find some real stairs to climb! Change of scenery goes a long way in alleviating boredom. 2. Follow the Seasons Find seasonal activities that you might enjoy. In the winter, skiing, ice skating and snow showing are great forms of exercise. In the summer, the choices are almost limitless: team sports, swimming, rollerblading, biking, etc. 3. Join an Activity Club or Take a Class A great way to ensure that you get regular exercise is to follow some pre-set structure. Exercise classes that meet once or twice a week for an hour or so will really help you shape up. Try dance or martial arts classes for a good workout! Or, if there is a physical activity that you really love, but never allow yourself the time to enjoy, give yourself permission to join an activity club. You'll meet new people, spend more time on what you enjoy, and get your exercise in the process. 4. Use Music If you must go to the gym, bring along some headphones and some fun music. It will keep your energy level up, and will allow you to focus on something a little more interesting than the wall in front of your exercise equipment. Exercise is an excellent tool for managing ADD. It offers many physical and mental health benefits, and it can be a lot of fun! Remember, when an ADDer starts to get bored with exercise, it's time to mix it up. Note: Always check with your doctor before beginning a new exercise routine. Jennifer Koretsky is a Professional ADD Management Coach who helps adults manage their ADD and move forward in life. She encourages clients to increase self-awareness, focus on strengths and talents, and create realistic action plans. She offers a 90-day intensive skill-building program, workshops, and private coaching. Her work has been featured in numerous media, including The New York Times Magazine and The Times (UK). To subscribe to Jennifer's free email newsletter, The ADD Management Guide, please visit http://www.addmanagement.com/e-newsletter.htm
MORE RESOURCES:
Exercise - Google News |
RELATED ARTICLES
Bodybuilding Training Tips - To be a Champion! Twenty two years ago I fell into the world of bodybuilding by accident. I had absolutely no discipline, determination or confidence in myself. Weight Loss and Fitness - Facts not Fiction The world of weight loss and fitness is certainly vast, and theAmerican consumer can absolutely get lost in the thousands ofeasy effortless and ostly useless ads if not careful. With mybooks and research I want to clear the air about the variousmyths and false statements regarding our health and fitness thathave clearly muddied the waters for many Americans. Warning! Lack Of Exercise Could Be Harmful To Your Health You know it's bad when the Surgeon General issues a warning that lack of exercise is hazardous to your health. And that was back in '96. Exercise: How To Keep Your Kids Moovin and Groovin One out of five American kids is obese and the numbers keep going up. Lack of exercise is one reason for the obesity epidemic and it's a true epidemic that threatens health. Top 3 Back Pain Risk Factors Lower back pain is an increasingly common problem in fact four out of five Americans will experience lower back pain at least once in their lifetime.Properly training the lower back involves selecting the right exercises to work this area and using good technique to make sure that you are getting the most out of the movement. 2 Exercises to Avoid If you want a good night, then avoid two of these old school moves.Good Mornings:Although I can't say I've seen these moves done in quite some time, I know that growing up I saw plenty of pictures of how the move should be done. Bodybuilding, Weight Loss, and Exercise Tips - Goal Setting for Long Term Results My name is Greg Ryan. I am a fitness expert, professional bodybuilder, personal trainer to movie stars, former employee of Kathy Smith and have over 50,000 hours of paid personal training sessions under my belt. Exercise Is a Key to Good Health for All of Us There's plenty of evidence that an essential component of a healthy life is physical activity. It has been shown that exercise has a positive effect on both your body and mind. The Different Types of Treadmills When we usually think of treadmills, we tend to think thatthere is only one type on the market. However, this isvery far from the truth as there are a couple of differenttypes of treadmills. Want To Get In Shape? Watch Another Infomercial! You know I have always wondered how people of yesteryear, likeEugene sandow, John Grimek, Steve reeves, Jack Lalanne, Joe Louis, Charle Atlas, and many others that i could mention couldpossibly get into such fantastic shape without all these gadgets, gizmos, and late night exercise machines being touted all over your favorite TV stations.I mean let's look at what is happening here! You have got Ab dolly, Ab rocker, Ab lounge, Abwheel, Ab-this-Ab-that, andI am not saying that they may not give some results but let'sface it if any one of these was a "cure all" why do they have to keep coming out with more??????? And why do people keep buying the latest and greatest thing? Well i will tell you?SALES AND MARKETING! These infomercials have it down to ascience. 10 Workout Mistakes Cheaters Make "When I'm lifting free weights, I tend to go pretty fast on the downward motion when I'm supposed to be using more control," says Beth Pekol, who works in banking in Chicago."I lean on the StairMaster when I'm on it," says Shaun Stewart, a new bride who lives in Memphis. 6 Things A Norwegian Fable Teaches Us About Healthy Perseverance Part 1 Author, H. Besser, in his book, "Perseverance:How To Develop It," shares a Norwegian fable about a man who left his hometown to rejoinhis fiancée. 5 Essential Walking Exercise Tips Walking exercise is one of the easiest ways to get in shape and burn fat. In fact, mile for mile, you can burn as many calories walking as you would jogging. Exercising In Heat Summer is officially here. Finally you can pack away your jackets and get outside. The New Discovery That Makes It Possible To Get An Effective Workout In Less Time The Art of Multifunctional TrainingPeople often complain about how they just do not have enough time to spend working out in a gym. It seems every year the lives of many Americans become more hectic and they have less time to devote to bettering their health. Some Great Ideas on Staying Fit Physical exercise is something that you need to do on a regular basis. If you're looking for examples of great fitness exercises to try out, you'll find them on our site. Dangerous Shoulder Exercises Have you ever suffered from shoulder discomfort after working out? I am referring to aching or sharp pain experienced in the front of the shoulder or lateral upper arm that is felt with overhead activities, reaching behind the back or even laying on the shoulder. These symptoms are often indicative of rotator cuff inflammation. Interval Training Are you in an exercise rut? Do you want to kick your fitness level up a notch and increase your endurance? Would you like to add more intensity to you workout? Interval training is a good way to achieve all of these goals in a safe and systematic manner.Interval training is simply a matter of alternating high intensity exercise and low intensity exercise. Great Exercises To Tone & Tighten Your Butt A question I am frequently asked by females is, "What is the best exercise I can do for my butt?" In my opinion, there is nothing better you can do for your butt than lunges. They target your glutes, hamstrings and quads, and can easily be modified for beginners to advanced exercisers. The New Lover Approach to Starting an Exercise Program Approach a New Exercise Program Like a New LoverHow many times have you decided to get back to some type of exercise program? You've bought gear, new shoes, new clothes, whatever is needed. You've set aside some time, and off you go. |
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |