It could be that it is not necessarily just the exercise but the being outdoors, what I call "out-and-about". I have to take my blood pressure for a week before I go see my GP using a wrist monitor calibrated with the doctor's cuff, as arm monitors doctors use hurt my arm too much and send my blood pressure soaring from the pain.

I have found that just going out shopping or to breakfast or just "out" brings down my blood pressure to "normal" whereas sitting here at the computer all day keeps it higher. I am quite happy at the computer, have numerous course and projects I enjoy but we need the outside air and light I think for our health.

I was reading about sunlight/being outdoors and how that helps with our circadian rhythm and I know if that gets messed up depression and other stuff can follow, etc. I would do a test and try "resting" outside the house? Can you go out for a pint or a cream tea and just watch the world go by, walk to a used bookshop and browse, something like that you'd enjoy?