November is Men’s Health Awareness month and it is time we delve into the issues 50% of our population faces. Men’s health is not talked about as often as we’d like and it all comes down to our society expecting men to “walk it off” when things get tough. However, doing so takes a toll on men’s mental health and it creates a lot of emotional issues that become harder to deal with over time. These emotional issues then have a negative impact on their professional and personal lives.
Emotional regulation is when you are able to exercise some control over your emotions, behaviours, and thoughts. It means knowing how to navigate your emotions and resisting or doing something that could make the situation at hand worse. Emotional regulation is often associated with our reactions. Most men in our society are prone to lashing out because they haven’t been equipped with emotional regulation. However, there are some ways a man can work on his emotional regulation. One of the most effective ways is workouts.
There are different types of workouts that can help you effectively regulate your emotions, keeping you mentally, physically, and emotionally fit.
Here are some types of workouts that you can do to help.
Aerobic And Cardiovascular Exercises
Aerobic exercises are excellent for your body and heart. They create the type of intensity that helps release feel-good hormones or endorphins. These types of workouts get your heart rate up and keep your emotions in check. You can do swimming, cycling, brisk walking, jogging, or use a treadmill or elliptical trainer at your gym. Aerobic exercises have been proven to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression as well.
Yoga
Yoga is one of the best exercises to help you regulate your emotions. It is a holistic workout that calms you down and makes you strong. It focuses on breathing, meditation, and posture to help you relax. It doesn’t have the same effect as an aerobic exercise, but it works wonderfully by releasing tension in your body and stretching stiff muscles.
Tai Chi
Not a lot of people have heard of Tai Chi but it is great for people struggling with their emotions. Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese exercise that is practiced worldwide. Studies suggest that it has a positive impact on one’s emotional health. Tai Chi is one exercise that can be easily done by people of any age group. The movements are easy and usually repetitive, and they don’t require much endurance. The movements mainly focus on breathing and mobility.
Key Takeaway
It is crucial for men to talk about their feelings and communicate with people around them. Emotional de-regulation is the result of suppression and accumulation of emotions and feelings. If you keep your feelings suppressed, you are bound to explode.
We are all social animals, we thrive in a supportive environment and that’s why it is important for us to consider what men are going through and create a safe space for them to express their emotions.
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