We all know that exercise is beneficial for our wellbeing as we hear it all the time that we should exercise because it is good for us. But have you ever wondered what it means exactly? Many people aren’t unaware of exercise’s impact on mental health.
Exercise is proven to reduce daily stress significantly. It also increases happiness levels and decreases the levels of sadness and loneliness, not only in the short term but also long term. Exercise can also prevent depression and anxiety disorders.
In some cases, exercise can also be as effective as psychological or pharmaceutical treatments. That said, if you have a busy schedule or are going through a busy phase in your professional and personal life, you still want to run 15 minutes every day, as it can reduce the risk of major depression and decrease stress levels.
Here are some other positive effects of exercise on mental health:
In This Article
Boost Endorphins
Exercise can help boost the body’s production of endorphins, which are hormones that help you feel more pleasure, relax, and feel less pain. Endorphins also reduce the amount of the stress hormone in the body called cortisol.
Boost Dopamine
Exercise can help your brain produce more dopamine and serotonin, which are chemicals that are responsible for making you happy. Also, physical activities, such as fitness classes, are great opportunities for social interaction, which has proven to boost moods and curb feelings of loneliness.
Exercise can also help boost self-esteem and foster a positive sense of self-worth when it becomes a habit.
If you have been feeling down lately, joining a local gym is a good idea. For instance, you might want to discover the best fitness gyms in Newtown and work out with other people. Joining a group of like-minded people is more likely to help you be consistent with the workouts.
Team Sports
According to studies, team sports and aerobics are linked with the greatest reduction in poor mental health. Unfortunately, many people do not get enough exercise, which brings us to the importance of doing exercises that one likes the most.
If you struggle with maintaining a proper workout routine, you will want to ask yourself the questions of which exercise you prefer doing and what you enjoy. Then, you will want to set reasonable goals and stick with the goals.
If you are in your 20s, you should do exercises that include running, dancing, and martial arts to promote bone growth. If you are in your 30s or 40s, you should do weight training exercises as you will be losing muscles at this point in your life.
It is also important to do cardiovascular exercises, such as rowing and fishing.
The Takeaway
Exercising for half an hour or one hour a day is associated with the greatest reduction in poor mental health days. But, exercising for more than three hours a day is linked with worse mental health than not exercising at all.
That said, it is obvious that obsessively exercising is not healthy. So, you will want to set the perfect balance while doing enjoyable workouts.
