Why Exercise Is Good For Your Mental Health
The benefit of exercise for physical health has long been documented but the benefits of exercise for your mental health are now being realised more and more.
No matter if your goal is weight loss, muscle gain or you’re training for a marathon, exercise has huge benefits for the mind too and here’s why:
It releases endorphins
There’s no doubt that exercise makes you feel great and lifts your spirits. The reason for this is some powerful chemicals in your body called endorphins. After exercise you feel positive, happy and accomplished and the effect can last long after you’ve completed your workout too. You might struggle during a particularly gruelling workout class, but the high you feel after you’ve completed it makes the struggle all worth it.
It helps release stress
Exercise can be a great distraction and take your mind off the stresses and strains of your everyday life. If you’ve had a bad day at work, just 15 minutes of physical activity can help you unwind and switch off from the events of the day. Because you’re concentrating on moving your body and pushing yourself, you’ll soon forget about your bad day and feel positive and relaxed. If you need an extra stress booster why not try a fitness class such as boxercise and punch that stress away!
It helps you sleep better
Burning off any excess energy will really help with your quality of sleep. It doesn’t matter what time of day you prefer to exercise, it can help you regulate your sleeping pattern and relax. If you make exercise part of your daily routine, you’ll soon start to see your sleep improve and form a much healthier pattern.
It can be social
There are lots of social aspects of exercise too. Fitness classes in particular are a great way to meet like-minded people and keep fit in a social atmosphere. If you attend regularly, you’ll start to see similar faces and even if you don’t stop to have a chat before or after the class, just being surrounded by others can help combat loneliness.
It boosts energy and self-confidence
If you’re tired or stressed it may feel like being active is going to make you feel worse, but in fact, after exercise you will normally experience a boost of energy and this will help you be more productive and alert throughout the day. Just promise yourself 5 minutes of activity and chances are, you’ll be able to carry on for much longer. By just incorporating a few minutes of exercise into your daily routine you’ll soon become more confident in your abilities and see improvements in what you can do. You’ll see a marked change in your fitness and even your appearance which in turn can help boost self-confidence so you feel better inside and out.
You don’t have to be a fitness fanatic to experience the benefits of exercise; even moderate exercise can make a huge difference to your mental health. So what are you waiting for, get moving and feel great!
1. It Releases Endorphins
There’s no doubt that exercise makes you feel great and lifts your spirits. The reason for this is some powerful chemicals in your body called endorphins. After exercise you feel positive, happy and accomplished and the effect can last long after you’ve completed your workout too. You might struggle during a particularly gruelling workout class, but the high you feel after you’ve completed it makes the struggle all worth it.
2. It Helps Release Stress
Exercise can be a great distraction and take your mind off the stresses and strains of your everyday life. If you’ve had a bad day at work, just 15 minutes of physical activity can help you unwind and switch off from the events of the day. Because you’re concentrating on moving your body and pushing yourself, you’ll soon forget about your bad day and feel positive and relaxed. If you need an extra stress booster why not try a fitness class such as boxercise and punch that stress away!
3. It Helps You Sleep Better
Burning off any excess energy will really help with your quality of sleep. It doesn’t matter what time of day you prefer to exercise, it can help you regulate your sleeping pattern and relax. If you make exercise part of your daily routine, you’ll soon start to see your sleep improve and form a much healthier pattern.
4. It Can Be Social
There are lots of social aspects of exercise too. Fitness classes in particular are a great way to meet like-minded people and keep fit in a social atmosphere. If you attend regularly, you’ll start to see similar faces and even if you don’t stop to have a chat before or after the class, just being surrounded by others can help combat loneliness.
It boosts energy and self-confidence
If you’re tired or stressed it may feel like being active is going to make you feel worse, but in fact, after exercise you will normally experience a boost of energy and this will help you be more productive and alert throughout the day. Just promise yourself 5 minutes of activity and chances are, you’ll be able to carry on for much longer. By just incorporating a few minutes of exercise into your daily routine you’ll soon become more confident in your abilities and see improvements in what you can do. You’ll see a marked change in your fitness and even your appearance which in turn can help boost self-confidence so you feel better inside and out.
You don’t have to be a fitness fanatic to experience the benefits of exercise; even moderate exercise can make a huge difference to your mental health. So what are you waiting for, get moving and feel great!