A Seemingly Positive, Daily Activity That Is Probably Making You More Anxious

Feeling overwhelmed?  Just relax and chill for a long period of time, right?

That might not be the best idea. A study by Teychenne et al. (2015), in the journal BNC Public Health. shows that low energy activities like watching TV, sitting in front of a computer, playing video games, etc. can actually increase anxiety.

The studies lead researcher, Dr. Megan Teychenne, found that the increase in anxiety in the modern era parallels the increase in sedentary behaviour (i.e., being inactive). She also identifies disturbed sleep, poor metabolic health and social withdrawal as potential causes.

Take Home Message

Being sedentary for too long is never a good idea.  We were designed to move. This is why research continually shows that every type of exercise is beneficial for mental health.

But what can help you to relax when you are not moving?

Mindfulness, deep breathing, relaxation techniques, just to name a few, would serve you well as an effective to regenerate and decompress.