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Talk to someone . Tell friends and family you ’ re feeling overwhelmed , and let them know how they can help you . Talk to a physician or therapist for professional help .
Fitness Tips : Stay Healthy , Manage Stress
For the biggest benefits of exercise , try to include at least 2½ hours of moderateintensity physical activity ( e . g . brisk walking ) each week , 1¼ hours of a vigorousintensity activity ( such as jogging or swimming laps ), or a combination of the two .
5 X 30 : Jog , walk , bike , or dance three to five times a week for 30 minutes .
Set small daily goals and aim for daily consistency rather than perfect workouts . It ' s better to walk every day for 15-20 minutes than to wait until the weekend for a three-hour fitness marathon . Lots of scientific data suggests that frequency is most important .
Find forms of exercise that are fun or enjoyable . Extroverted people often like classes and group activities . People who are more introverted often prefer solo pursuits .
Distract yourself with an iPod or other portable media player to download audiobooks , podcasts , or music . Many people find it ’ s more fun to exercise while listening to something
they enjoy .
Recruit an “ exercise buddy .” It ' s often easier to stick to your exercise routine when you have to stay committed to a friend , partner , or colleague .
Be patient when you start a new exercise program . Most sedentary people require about four to eight weeks to feel coordinated and sufficiently in shape so that exercise feels easier .
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