EoS Fitness Study Shows 83% of Americans Are Feeling Election-Related Stress, While 95% Recognize Importance of Physical Activity for Stress Relief

DALLAS, September 27, 2024–(BUSINESS WIRE)–As the November presidential election approaches, 83% of American adults are experiencing some form of stress, and three out of five are reporting moderate to extreme anxiety about it, according to a new survey conducted by EoS Fitness. The study also highlighted that 45% of respondents have seen their anxiety levels increase over the past 60 days, with 53% expecting their stress to escalate as Election Day gets closer.

In the face of rising election stress, the majority of respondents—95%—agree that physical activity is a crucial tool in managing anxiety. Among those experiencing the highest stress levels, 72% said regular exercise significantly helps them cope.

Americans Exercise to Manage Election Anxiety

“As Americans experience the growing importance of this time of year, our survey finds that exercise is a healthy and effective way to manage anxiety,” said EoS Fitness Chief Marketing Officer Shilpi Sullivan. “Providing a welcoming space where people can relieve stress, connect with others and improve their well-being is part of our foundation. At EoS, we believe in the value of fitness not just for physical health but as a vital resource for mental clarity and overall wellness. Members find the sense of community and comradery in our gyms to be an integral piece of their gym-going experience.”

Perception vs. Reality of Election Stress

Interestingly, while the majority of Americans admit to feeling election-related anxiety, they believe others are feeling it more. Over 80% of respondents report personal stress, while 93% think others are struggling with higher levels of anxiety. Additionally, 82% believe other people’s election-related stress is moderate to extreme, a full 20% higher than their assessment of their own stress.

Exercise: A Community Solution for Relief

Joella Hopkins, executive vice president of group fitness at EoS Fitness, noted the additional benefits of working out with others. “Exercising in a group or with a partner creates a sense of community and accountability, making it easier to stay consistent,” said Hopkins. “Sharing the experience with others helps build connections, which is incredibly powerful for mental well-being and stress management.”

More Exercise, More Control Over Stress

The survey also found that those who exercise more than three times per week are 34% more likely to feel in control of their stress during this election period. Whether it’s vigorous weightlifting, calming yoga or simply taking a walk, physical activity is a proven remedy for anxiety, and EoS Fitness encourages its members and the communities it serves to prioritize movement for mental clarity and reducing stress.

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According to the survey, the top 10 activities respondents use to reduce their anxiety include:

1. Walking

2. Gardening

3. Swimming

4. Weightlifting

5. Running

6. Strength training

7. Cycling

8. Yoga

9. Dancing

10. Active meditation

For more tips on incorporating exercise into your routine to combat stress or anxiety, visit eosfitness.com/blog.

About the Survey

This survey was completed using Pollfish, an online surveying platform with a global network of respondents. The random sample of 1,000 participants were adult U.S. residents polled on September 18, 2024.

About EoS Fitness

EoS Fitness, a leader in the fitness industry with its High Value. Low Price. (HVLP)® gyms, is an inclusive and welcoming organization committed to empowering exercise practitioners of all experience levels. With more than 150 gym locations open and on the way in Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Southern California, Texas and Utah, EoS Fitness is rapidly expanding. Providing serious fitness options, EoS Fitness offers the best equipment, high-energy workout classes, top-notch amenities, and extensive personal training options starting at just $9.99 per month. www.EoSfitness.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240927255123/en/

Contacts

Media Contact:
Melissa Rue
mkr@nstpr.com
208-850-5939

There are some people who can’t get enough when it comes to exercise — the ones who are up at the crack of dawn for a jog, who squeeze in a class during their lunch break and prioritize boot camps over brunch on the weekends.

And then there are the rest of us. We know we need to exercise — for at least 150 minutes per week, plus two days of muscle-strengthening activities, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — but we don’t necessarily want to. Or maybe we struggle to find the time (not to mention the energy), get easily bored or feel out of our element (and out of shape) at the gym.

Enter: lazy exercise. Yes, there are ways to incorporate movement and exercise into your life without doing the whole no-pain-no-gain thing, or pushing yourself too far out of your comfort zone. Here’s how.

Focus on getting more steps in

Many people aim to walk 10,000 steps per day. Though you don’t actually have to hit this specific number, you can at least focus on beating your weekly average step count (which your smartphone or fitness tracker can measure). Walking comes with all sorts of health benefits, and it’s a simple way to ensure you’re spending less time sitting around (which is not so great for you).

The good news about people who dread exercise? Walking is pretty low-key and easy to work into your day. If you hate how much time exercise takes in your busy life, try getting in some extra steps while you’re busy doing errands (like, say, at the mall); sneak in some laps while your kids play at the park; walk to the store to grab stuff for dinner instead of taking your car; or take work phone calls while pacing around your office.

Try a micro exercise class

Does a 45-minute class feel like too much of a time commitment? Kira Jones Matousek, founder and CEO of the fitness app Cacti Wellness, tells Yahoo Life that her app features short workout videos — all under 20 minutes — in order for people to build exercises into their life in sustainable ways.

“My big mindset around wellness and working out is that it’s all about consistency and building habits that you can actually stick to,” Matousek says. “If you’re more likely to do 10 minutes of core every day than going just once a week to a really hard workout class, when you are then sore and don’t have the energy to go back … then it becomes a lifestyle.”

Look for apps or YouTube videos that offer shorter workouts that are simple to squeeze in — like when you need a break between Zoom meetings or are waiting for your dinner to cook.

Pair your exercises with something cozy — or fun

TikToker Hope Zuckerbrow introduced the world to “cozy cardio” when she shared her morning routine, which includes waking up early, making herself a fun beverage (like a protein coffee) and then using a walking pad while watching her favorite TV show. Zuckerbrow didn’t even change out of her fuzzy socks in order to get her steps in.

Research says that associating walking with something that makes you feel good (like, say, watching the latest episode of Vanderpump Rules) is an example of pairing — and it can help the habit stick. So, if you can only catch up on your reality TV drama when you’re on the walking pad, that might just be the incentive you need to keep it up.

Work out while you work

If much of your job is answering emails and Slack messages, consider doing it from a treadmill, says Matousek. She says you should walk at a pace where you are putting a little effort in, but can very comfortably keep up a conversation. “Then up the incline a little bit,” she says. Doing so is a “sneaky way to recruit your muscles,” such as your glutes, calves and posterior chain. Since you’re likely focused on sending out emails and communicating with co-workers, you might find that the workout (and work day) flies by.

Indulge in some “exercise snacking”

You don’t need to do a formal workout class in order to benefit from this form of “lazy” exercise. Try what’s called “exercise snacking,” which are short bursts of activity throughout your day. Maybe that means a few rounds of push-ups in between meetings, and then a couple of sets of squats when your day is done.

These exercise snacks can spike your heart rate (important, considering how we do need those 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week) but they’re way easier to fit into your life than a sustained cardio workout.

While you may not feel like you’re getting a full workout in, these snacks add up, breaking up sedentary time and helping you burn calories and build muscle.

Try the “Lazy 45” circuit

Sometimes, you find yourself in the gym with almost no motivation to move your body. David Mason, sports coach and founder of travel fitness website Barbells Abroad, tells Yahoo Life that when he feels that way, he aims for the “Lazy 45,” in which he picks three or four different cardio machines (like the stair climber, elliptical, treadmill or rower) and switches them up every 10 to 15 minutes. “The beauty is if you’re feeling a little sluggish, the time slots are short enough to know each one is almost over as soon as you start,” he explains.

Lie down

Exercise that involves standing up? Don’t bother on extra lazy days. If you want to relax while still working out, why not aim for a mat workout instead?

Maeve McEwen, director of programming and head trainer at Pvolve, tells Yahoo Life that getting closer to the ground can encourage you to connect more with your muscles and overall feel more supported. Plus, McEwen says you can also “use props like the wall, balls, pillows or the ground to help alleviate fatigue and support your form,” she says.

There are a bunch of different workouts that involve lying down, including mat Pilates and stretching. Matousek’s Cacti Wellness has a side lying series, in which participants use resistance bands for leg exercises. “You can put your head in your hand, and it’s not going to make it less of a workout for your lower body,” she notes.

Sneak in lazy exercise into your daily activities

You don’t have to plan for lazy exercise all the time — which makes it the most convenient of all. Just tweak your basic routine to be a tiny bit more active or challenging. Here are some examples:

• Take the stairs instead of the elevator

• Use a resistance band to do some thigh work during a long work meeting

• Make your chores more active, like putting some extra muscle into scrubbing your bathtub

• Carry your kid’s backpack while walking home from school (it’s basically rucking)

• Balance on one foot while brushing your teeth or cooking

• Play an active video game

• Add wrist or ankle weights while walking the dog

🏋🏽‍♀️ Fitness

The reason that actor Shilpa Shetty manages to look this great is that she has found the balance between health, fitness, diet and rest.

Shilpa Shetty fitness and health: Shilpa Shetty continues to maintain a healthy and fit body at the age of 49, thanks to her dedicated exercise routine. The actor’s fitness and wellness regimen includes regular Ashtanga and Iyengar yoga, eating a balanced diet, doing a combination of cardio, strength training and Pilates regularly, meditation and deep breathing exercises, sleeping for 7-8 hours, staying hydrated, relaxation with self-care, and of course, a lot of self-love. Not only does she love doing all this, Shetty also enjoys sharing her routine with her fans and followers on social media, where she is very active.

Every now and then, the actor floats a video in which she talks about the importance of health, and how big of a role physical fitness plays in it. According to her, one must employ a holistic approach that focuses on nourishing the body, mind and spirit, in order to stay disease-free.

Recently, Shetty posted another video on Instagram, in which she shared some nuggets of wisdom, as to what constitutes a healthy body. “Discipline is the ultimate motivation. Consistency in keeping that discipline is the key to opening the doors to excellence,” she wrote in the caption alongside the video. Take a look here.

The mother-of-two was seen doing some exercises while sharing her knowledge with the world. “What is health? It is a relationship between you and your body,” the actor said while working out in her gym. She added that health is about finding that ‘sweet spot’. “…it is a balance between how much you eat and how you move.”

While gently doing some leg and balancing exercises — in which she folded her elbows and placed her arms on top of each other — Shetty urged her followers to not follow diets, but instead nourish their bodies with healthy foods.

She also suggested creating healthy habits, instead of imposing restrictions on yourself. Many people tend to follow punishing diets that stop them from eating certain foods. While everything should be consumed in moderation, one can eat all kinds of foods if they manage to develop healthy habits, such as exercising every day.

In the video, Shetty displayed her leg strength by lifting her legs with weights placed on them.

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“Eat in awareness,” she said, asking people to consume their meals in a mindful manner, without distractions.

Finally, she said that the mantra is ‘discipline over motivation’. “Your health is in your hands; don’t just wish for health. Go work for it.” Often, when one feels demotivated, they must still push themselves to work out. It need not be a strenuous routine, but one simply has to move.

What do you think of this advice?

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