Why You Need Healthy Happy Movement in Your Life

Exercise is so good for you! But… do you enjoy it? Perhaps you need a bit more motivation to pursue it now, not just the long-term benefits.

You can live intentionally with passion and purpose as God’s beloved.

Live intentionally – including how you move your body!

In this post, we’ll dig into the research behind how healthy movement and happiness can go together. Let’s dive in!

What is healthy happy movement?

Though I can’t take credit for coining the term (other folks use it, too), here’s my definition of healthy happy movement.

Healthy happy movement – pursuing movement that is healthy for you and brings you joy – either before, during or after the movement

My self-made definition (you’re welcome)

Yes, it is exercise. Yes, it’s working out. But… it’s also more.

You can diligently jog around your neighborhood the requisite 3 miles each day and absolutely hate it. Or you can lift weights each evening while watching the latest Marvel series and begrudgingly pick up those weights each time.

Or… you could dance to a favorite dance video and grin your face off. Or enjoy luxuriating stretches on your bedroom floor.

Regardless of what the movement is – there’s a BIG difference between doing it because “you ought to” and doing it because “I kind of like this and it’s good for me!”

Love jogging? Jog on! Hate dancing? Try something else!

via GIPHY

It’s also important that the healthy movement suits YOU. Ideally, you’re choosing healthy movement that truly is healthy for your body, mind, and heart. That also can boost the happy factor!

For instance, I get migraines several times a month. Healthy movement that involves bouncing my head (like jumping, burpees, running, etc.) does a number on my head. So rather than doing these exercises because “I should” – I modify moves or just don’t do them.

What may be “healthy” for others may not be “healthy” for you. That’s okay. Try something else that better suits your needs (and boosts your happiness!).

My goal isn’t to brainwash you to do yoga, Pilates, Bollywood dancing, or whatever the heck I enjoy. 

The real goal is to encourage you to pursue healthy movement that brings you joy. To pursue healthy movement that makes you feel like a boss afterward. And who doesn’t want to do more of what makes you feel like a champ?

via GIPHY

With this self-made definition in mind, let’s dive into why healthy happy movement is so good for you.

Healthy movement can improve your overall mental and emotional well-being

Helpguide.org provides a fantastic article discussing the many benefits of exercising (or in this case, healthy movement). Here are a few highlights about how healthy movement is so good for you:

• Can treat mild to moderate depression as effectively as antidepressant medication, but without the side effects.
• Help reduce anxiety by relieving tension and stress, boosting your physical and mental energy, and enhancing your sense of well-being.
• Can increase your body awareness if you are present during healthy movement (not zoning out).
• Assists with reducing stress by relaxing your muscles, which can help your mind slow down, too.
• One of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce ADHD symptoms.
• Can improve your concentration, motivation, memory, and mood.
• By focusing in on how your body feels, you can better cope with stress responses tied to PTSD or trauma.

I was going to painstakingly lay out the multiple reasons why the healthy happy movement is so good for you when I found this infographic by Happify about how exercise improves well-being. The infographic does a fantastic job of illustrating how important healthy movement is (and it’s far prettier than just a bunch of paragraphs).

(If the image is harder to read on my site, you might want to jump right to the infographic by Happify).

Why happiness matters

I’m not advocating that life should be all about “following your heart” or “just doing what makes you happy.”

Both pieces of advice can be pretty terrible, actually.

Yet having happiness in your day-to-day can help you become more healthy, productive, and nice. (Say what?!)

Here are some great resources that go into more depth about what happiness, why it matters, and the science behind it:

• The Science of Happiness in Positive Psychology 101
• Serious Research on Happiness
• What is the Science of Happiness?

You probably don’t need convincing that happiness is pretty great. Who doesn’t like feeling good about themselves and life?

When healthy movement + happiness get together

Will all healthy movement rock your face off?

Probably not.

Will you always feel like a boss after a hardcore workout?

Nope.

But… more often than not, you can choose what kind of healthy movement you do.

Choose healthy movement that empowers you. That brings you joy -either before (excitement!), during (the experience), or after (resolution).

Will a good workout totally turn your day, week, or life around? Maybe. Maybe not.

However, choosing to pursue healthy movement is a great choice.

And choosing to pursue healthy movement that makes you happy? Even better.

It’s far better for you to keep coming back again and again to something that revs your engine rather than stalling out with something you detest.

Articles related to happy healthy movement

• 9 Fun Healthy Happy Movement Challenges to Try (with actionable ideas to get started!)
• Defeat this false belief: I’m not someone who works out!
• 51 Simple Joy Boosting Ideas for Your Day to Day
• Relieve Tension with Yoga
• Relaxing Seated Yoga for Beginners and Yoga-Lovers
• Easy, Uncomplicated 5 Minute Yoga

Your mission: Find your healthy happy movement

More posts will be coming soon about different healthy happy movement options, but until then, I encourage you to start identifying some of your healthy happy movement options.

As we’ve discussed, here’s the Coffee Chats and Yoga Mats’ definition of healthy happy movement:

Healthy happy movement – pursuing movement that is healthy for you and brings you joy – either before, during or after the movement

My self-made definition (you’re welcome)

Google different healthy movement options. Brainstorm your own ideas. And start with something. Go for a jog. Swim. Climb a tree. Whatever it is, just start moving. Who knows – along the way you might actually find yourself really, really enjoying it!

Friend, remember that you are God’s beloved. Your life matters. Live intentionally – including how you move your body!

What healthy happy movement do you like? Leave a comment and let’s chat!

P.S. Want some crazy simple steps to start living intentionally? Grab the Embrace Your Potential Playbook. It’ll help you zoom in on your God-gifted personality and give you practical tips to be more intentional, passionate, and purposeful as God’s beloved so you can become the best version of yourself.