Every morning at 4:30am my alarm goes off with the words “GET UP AND RUN.” Yes, that’s right, 4:30am! Why? The number one reason I run every day is that it keeps me laid back! Can you relate?

Regular exercise can increase your self-confidence, improve your mood, help you relax, improve your sleep and lower symptoms of mild depression and anxiety. According to Very Well Mind, physical exercise can ward off mental health problems before they start and can be used to enhance the well-being of people who already feel mentally healthy. Benefits can be seen with as little as ten minutes of exercise a day. Here are some tips if you’re interested in adding some exercise into your life:

Consult with your doctor: Inform your Physician before starting any new moderate or intense activity.

Find your motivation: Think about why you want to exercise.

Things to consider: Swim, bike, run, dance, sports, walking, yoga, pilates, karate and tennis are just a few ways to engage in physical activity. What interests you? Do you want to exercise with a buddy or go solo? Outside, inside, or both? There are so many things to consider.

Set realistic expectations: If you’re not a morning person, don’t commit to exercising at the crack of dawn. Think about your yourself, your schedule and what will realistically work for you. If you have 30 minutes three days a week -- start there, it’s better than telling yourself you have one hour a day and never meeting that goal. Do you want to add exercise as part of your daily routine or change it up? The key is to set yourself up to succeed.

Practice positive self-talk: Let’s be realistic, there will be days you don’t want to do it. How do you want to handle those days? Maybe honoring how you’re feeling and being okay with it or by saying “I can do this” and getting to it, both are fine! Either way, it’s important to treat yourself kindly.

Use visualization: Think about yourself exercising and picture yourself doing it. Visualization sharpens focus and increases your likeliness to follow through. Many professional athletes engaged in visualization.

Physical activity can increase the productions of your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters called endorphins. Physical strength can positively impact your mental strength. If you want to start moving, what’s stopping you?! If your mind is halting your motivation, counseling can help re-train unproductive thoughts that get in the way of your goals. Either way, YOU CAN DO IT and who knows you might enjoy feeling laid back too!