Spring is a time of new beginnings, and now the clocks
have changed, longer days and better weather are starting to make a big
difference to our state of mind.
During the winter, getting up in the dark and leaving
work in the dark can make us feel listless and lacking in motivation, and fit
for nothing but curling up on the sofa with an outsized mug of tea and a DVD. Now
that daffodils, crocuses and other flowers are beginning to colour the
countryside, though, while trees start to bud and lamps begin to hop about the
fields, most of us are starting to feel the effects of the new season.
It can be hard to get enough exercise in the winter, as
short days, poor weather, mud and dismal landscapes are often enough to deter
all but the most determined from getting outside. It's easy too, to wrap
ourselves up in sweaters and scarves and indulge in some serious comfort
eating, telling ourselves we'll soon get back into shape in spring. Well,
spring officially started on March 20th, so it's definitely time to make a
start!
Getting out and getting more exercise is good for us in
all sorts of ways. Sunshine can boot levels of the mood-lifting chemical
serotonin, so lack of sufficient sunlight over the winter can leave us feeling
low and depressed. If you're a healthy adult aged between 18 and 64, the
National Health Service recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity
exercise every week, which is also a great mood enhancer.
If you struggle with motivation, playing a team sport is
a great way of adding a fun, social aspect to exercise, and it'll also help you
develop other skills such as coordination and balance. At Play Simple Netball,
a friendly and approachable organisation in the North West, we're recruiting
for our summer leagues in April.
This Easter, why not make a new start and come
along to one of our taster sessions?
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