Many people add running to their routine for their physical health, but studies show it can be just as beneficial for our mental well-being. It’s a strategy that worked for an emergency room doctor at Tufts Medical Center. “I think it helps me deal with stress in so many ways,” said Dr. Justin Popso. “One is work. It’s stressful. Also, work-life balance. There can be stress at home and I find I’m a little more level-headed when I’m running.” Popso has always been a runner. But, when he started in the Tufts ER, he used running to improve sleep as he worked nights. This has developed into a habit that has helped him deal with stress in general. “Exercise is a really effective way to manage stress,” said Dr. Rebecca Brendel, a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and president of the American Psychiatric Association. Brendel said running has been linked to improved memory and concentration, better multitasking, and an elevated mood — what many call the “runner effect.” “When we start exercising, our hearts start pumping faster, our lungs start breathing a little heavier, and then we generate chemicals in our bodies called endorphins,” she said. “These endorphins have properties that reduce our anxiety, can elevate our mood, and even help us focus and pay closer attention.” Brendel also emphasized the social component of running. their thoughts, it’s also something we often tend to do in groups or with others to motivate ourselves and build our relationships,” she said. But the goal is to make running, or any exercise routine, something we actually want Do.” If we’re not morning people, the idea of running and going on a long pre-dawn run in the winter early in the morning, is really just setting ourselves up for failure,” Brendel cautioned. “The most important thing is to build it into our lives in a so that it reduces stress and is something that is welcomed rather than feared.” Popso offered this advice: “I would say go out and do it,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how far you go. You know, a couple minutes here, a couple minutes there. And the next thing you know, you’re running an ultra marathon or marathon. It just takes time.” As for Popso himself, he’s already run the Boston Marathon to raise money for Tufts. Next time he hopes to qualify and have another run down Boylston Street.
Many people add running to their routine for their physical health, but studies show it can be just as beneficial for our mental well-being.
It’s a strategy that worked for an emergency room doctor at Tufts Medical Center.
“I think it helps me deal with stress in so many ways,” said Dr. Justin Popso. “One is work. It’s stressful. Also, work-life balance. There can be stresses at home, and I find I’m a little more level-headed when I’ve gone for a run.”
Popso has always been a runner. But, when he started in the Tufts ER, he used running to improve sleep as he worked nights. This has developed into a habit that has helped him deal with stress in general.
“Exercise is a really effective way to manage stress,” said Dr. Rebecca Brendel, a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and president of the American Psychiatric Association.
Brendel said running has been linked to improved memory and concentration, better multitasking, and an elevated mood, what many call “the runner’s high.”
“When we start exercising, our hearts start pumping faster, our lungs start breathing a little heavier, and then we generate chemicals in our bodies called endorphins,” she said.
“These endorphins have properties that reduce our anxiety, can elevate our mood, and even help us focus and pay attention better.”
Brendel also emphasized the social component of running.
“Although many people run for alone time in their heads and with their thoughts, it’s also something we often tend to do in groups or with others to motivate ourselves and build our relationships,” she said.
But the goal is to make running, or any exercise routine, something we actually want to do.
“If we’re not morning people, the idea that we’re going to run and go for a long run before dawn in the winter, early in the morning, is really just setting ourselves up for failure,” Brendel cautioned. “The most important thing is to build it into our lives in a way that reduces stress and is something that is welcomed rather than feared.”
Popso offered this advice:
“I’d say go out and do it,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how far you go. You know, a couple minutes here, a couple minutes there. And the next thing you know, you’re running an ultra marathon or a marathon. It just takes time.”
As for Popso himself, he’s already run the Boston Marathon to raise money for Tufts. Next time he hopes to qualify and have another run down Boylston Street.