Running with good music is fun and extremely helpful!

Have any of you tried running or other high energy exercises? I have found it extremely useful for me for dealing with pent up energy and purging/resetting my mind(if I am getting into a risky state of mind). It is especially useful if you are feeling deprived of excitement or have pent up energy, which can both make us more vulnerable to temptation(at least for me). The key for me is to run with invigorating music! Without music, running is boring and unpleasant and I don't manage to run very far. But the right music makes it fun(my equivalent to dancing I guess) and I run way longer and probably somewhat faster. Here are some benefits that I get from it...

1. Dealing with pent up energy(it has also increases energy levels for me if I run regularly).

2. Snaps me out of laziness.

3. Purges temptation(may or may not last)

4. It can help teach self discapline, at least when it comes to exercise if nothing else. When running my mind is often telling me "Okay, that was enough, now would be a good time for resting." so I have to make a somewhat difficult choice and often tell it "No, keep running!" or my legs feel fatigued when I have only ran about a quarter-mile(I generally run 1-2 miles), so it takes discipline to keep running(and it generally turns out that the feeling of fatigue goes away). It is an opportunity to say no to your urge to seek the relief of a rest and powering through it with discipline feels great.

5. It boosts mood and gives you a healthy emotional high. It pretty much always purges depression for me. It feels as good as being sexually aroused(without being sexually aroused) except it will leaving feeling good and happy that you did it! In my experience, to effectively purge negative emotions and to feel super great, it is necessary to push yourself past the point where your mind is telling you "Time to rest!". I don't know if it is more of a feeling of triumph from persevering against those temptations to rest, or if it is just how the body responds to that level of exertion. I don't get to that point unless I am listening to invigorating music. Music can also help get me into a good rhythm to control my breathing better.

6. It is good exercise!

7. It meets a need for excitement or intensity. It feels epic with the right attitude and or music.

 

Muscle building exercise can also be useful for mood and purging negative thoughts or moods. Both require you to push yourself a little to get the best side benefits, at least that is my experience.