Why This Gym Is Going News-Free on Their TVs
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With the current political climate and 24-hour news cycle, it's far too easy to stress out. Now, Blink Fitness is attempting to help with the latter by cutting it back: The gym is turning off all news on its televisions and replacing the feeds with "mood-lifting" content every Monday during April.
The chain of gyms, which has locations in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and California, launched the new initiative (called "Tune Out While You Work Out"{: rel=nofollow}) as part of National Stress Awareness Month. Instead of airing news on TV screens in workout rooms, the gyms will show comedy, entertainment, music, and educational programming to members once a week in an effort to remove those stressful headlines from the exercise environment. The program will also encourage members to take a step back from their social media use while working out.
"We always want Blink to be a place our members turn to when they need a mood boost," Ellen Roggemann, vice president of marketing for Blink Fitness said{: rel=nofollow} in a press release. "We wanted to do something that would serve as a reminder that exercise is just as important for our members' mental well-being as it is for their physical health. We are removing stressors from our gyms like news content from our TV screens and are encouraging members to go social media-free during their workouts so they can tune out while they work out."
The initiative comes in response to the recent "Stress in America" survey{: rel=nofollow} of 3,511 people conducted online by the American Psychological Association, which found that Americans' stress level made the biggest jump since the survey's inception in 2007. What's causing the epic levels of stress? Political issues, concerns about safety, constant technology use, and the news, the research found. But the survey findings also suggest removing as many extraneous stressors from your life as possible. "If the 24-hour news cycle is causing you stress, limit your media consumption," said{: rel=nofollow} the association's Katherine Nordal. "Read enough to stay informed, but then plan activities that give you a regular break from the issues and the stress they might cause."
Like hitting the gym, perhaps? Exercise, after all, is a proven de-stresser. As SELF previously reported, one study from the University of Vermont found that just 20 minutes of exercise can boost your mood for 12 hours. Cardio and strength training can both give you a lift, and 30-60 minutes of exercise three to five days a week is optimal for mood benefits, according to the U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
This story originally appeared on Self.
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