I find that in our hurry-up, gotta-get-it-down-now lifestyle, far too often I get stressed out during my work day. From fighting traffic to dealing with surly customers and co-workers, life has a way of producing a lot of stress!

While this may be an accepted aspect of our modern world, stress will destroy our body over time. Exercise relieves stress; that's why it can be so beneficial to keeping us healthy.

When most people think about exercise, they get images of people sweating heavily and collapsing to the ground, completely out of breath. Exercise doesn't have to be like that. Here are a few simple ways to get daily exercise and relieve your body and mind of stress:

Walking

By far, this is the best form of simple exercise for your health. It's, easy to do, it doesn‘t cost anything (no fancy equipment needed), and best of all, it works! Simply put on your favorite pair of comfortable sneakers and head out for a 15-30 minute walk. If you live in a climate that gets cold in the winter (like Maine!), a treadmill in the comfort of your home can provide exercise from walking year-round. You can even walk on it while watching TV.

Aerobics

Perhaps you'd like a form of exercise that is a little more strenuous. Consider joining an aerobics class to get a great workout.

Sports

Other activities like basketball, cycling, golf, tennis or racquetball are great in reducing stress and building endurance.

Various Other Activities

-Consider doing yardwork like mowing the grass, raking leaves, or growing your own vegetable garden.

-Doing household chores around the house can also burn off some calories such as vacuuming or washing the car. I always get a great workout from stacking several cords of firewood every fall.

-At work, park your car as far as you can from the entrance and take the stairs instead of the elevator.

After exercising for a few weeks, you will be pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to do it. You will find yourself to continue to want to exercise. So get up off of the couch and get started. Regardless of what kind of activity you enjoy, the key is getting started. By getting some daily exercise you can eliminate excessive stress from your life and start enjoying the health benefits of a more active lifestyle.