WITH VIDEO AND INFOGRAPHIC: https://we.tl/17kcOAagYr
By Tyler Schmall
Having a bad day? Brace yourself - the average American experiences SIXTY bad days per year, a new study has revealed.
The survey of 2,000 working Americans examined how we deal with stress, what exactly a “bad day” consists of and what effect it has on our subsequent health.
Work was inevitably a big contributor, as the results found the average respondent blames work for four out of the five bad days they experience in a typical month.
The research, commissioned by fitness app Freeletics, looked at the specific reasons given for people recently experiencing a bad day and found not getting enough sleep was the biggest contributing factor to a bad day (67 percent).
Feeling sick is also a big factor to a bad day, as well as financial worry and work-related stress.
The mood of our days rests in a gentle balance, as one in four Americans said that not having any hot water in their shower has completely ruined their day on at least one occasion.
34 percent have had their days ruined by having some plans fall through, and 25 percent said a bad hair day led to a full-fledged bad day.
Sporting heartbreak can even ruin a day, but most Americans are able to quickly shrug off their favorite sports team losing a game with only eight percent listing it as a contributing factor to a bad day.
Stress and bad days are bad for us, both mentally and physically. 50 percent of Americans reported that they are more likely to indulge in admittedly unhealthy foods after a bad day, and 34 percent are more likely to have an alcoholic drink.
But is that the most effective way to deal with stress? According to the results, a little “workout therapy” will go a longer way in helping with bad days. Survey respondents were split based on their frequency of exercising, with results showing how beneficial working out actually is – both physically and mentally.
The more frequently somebody works out correlated with how likely they were to report that exercise helps them deal with stress. “These findings make a lot of sense, as working out after a tough day can be a very effective stress reliever, especially because it boosts those all-important endorphin levels,” says John-Francis Kennedy, Training Specialist at Freeletics.
Of the people who worked out 2-3 times per week, 46 percent claim it’s a good stress reliever. And for the people who worked out 4-5 times per week, that percentage jumped to an impressive 64 percent.
The benefits of working out are clear in the results. Of those who exercise, an incredible 95 percent said working out after a bad day makes them feel better. Over half (51 percent) said working out makes them feel more energetic at work. 44 percent feel more motivated, and 43 percent feel more clear-headed.
This is no real surprise, considering the science: “Any form of exercise can help to relieve stress and frustration: it leads to an increased level of some hormones, dopamine, serotonin and endorphins in the body,” Kennedy explains. “These, in turn, contribute to the feeling of happiness and a reduced level of the stress hormone cortisol.”
But why is stress a bad thing? “Chronic stress hinders the body’s ability to regulate cortisol levels, which, in turn, influences metabolism, immunity, sleep rhythm and blood pressure. This will often lead to you feeling tired and run-down, plus you will also be more likely to gain weight and crave fatty and sugary foods.”
But according to the results, Americans seem to find exercising fairly inconvenient. Nearly 4 in 5 Americans do not have a gym membership, citing price as the biggest reason, as well as the simple fact that they just don’t like going.
Surprisingly, many overestimated how long they should spend working out for their session to be effective. 27 percent cited a lengthy 46 - 60 minutes as the ideal workout duration, and 24 percent believe they need to exercise for 31 – 45 minutes. Often, according to the experts at Freeletics, if done the right way, just 15 to 20 minutes can be enough.
“It is clear that the right physical activity contributes to a healthy body and a healthy mind,” Freeletics CEO Daniel Sobhani explains. “So it’s vital that exercise be appealing and accessible to everyone. This was the exact reason our company was founded. Thanks to technology and fitness apps such as Freeletics, it is now possible to exercise effectively without a gym and at a much lower cost - even for free. People have the option to exercise anywhere and anytime - free from the usual hurdles they face.
"We know that a 20-minute bodyweight workout done at home can be just as effective as spending an evening in the gym, so there really are no more excuses not to work on a healthy body and a healthy mind.”
Top 5 reasons for exercising:
To improve my health (55 percent 1104)
To improve my body (53 percent 1055)
To help mental health / clear my head (33 percent 659)
To deal with / lessen stress (30 percent 592)
To occupy my time (13 percent 252)
Average respondent has 5 'bad days' per month - 60 per year.
