Five Benefits Of Exercise To Mental Health
- Oct 4, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: May 14, 2024
Written by: Atanas Piskachev, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
For decades, mental health did not get the attention it deserved because of "misconceptions" and "judgments," which boils down to being uneducated about its importance. People frequently stereotype "poor mental health" as overreacting and as something not worth giving attention to.
Thankfully, as the world progresses and the world improves, so does people's understanding of the importance of mental health. Today, the value of mental health garners a lot more needed attention, and people who suffer from depression, stress and other mental health issues feel more comfortable now when it comes to sharing and opening about their circumstances. With mental health being the talk of the town, so is the spread of false and alarming ways to improve mental well-being on social media. Everyone feels like a coach of their self-proclaimed workouts that, according to them, will be beneficial to your mental health.
As an advocate of mental health for years supporting and helping entrepreneurs integrate a healthy lifestyle into their hectic schedules, one of the pieces of advice I give my clients on improving their mental health is to work out. Even while this may be basic knowledge to many, its enormously favorable effects are still not given much acknowledgement. Others may not find working out appealing, but doing so will undoubtedly enhance your physical and emotional health. Even though working out can be exhausting, numerous studies have shown how good they are for your health. According to research, those who frequently work out have higher mental and emotional well-being as well as lower rates of mental disease.
5 benefits of exercise on mental health
The majority of us are aware of the numerous physical advantages of being physically active, including improved energy, a reduced risk of diabetes, lowered blood pressure, and weight control. But what about the psychological benefits of it? Here are the five benefits of exercise for your mental health:
1. Better sleep
Engaging in physical activities regularly can help you sleep better, and good sleep helps you manage your mood.
Exercise can also aid in helping you sleep better if you have problems doing so. Working out raises body temperature, which can have relaxing effects on the mind and make people less likely to experience insomnia and more likely to sleep. Your circadian rhythm, your body's internal alarm clock that determines when you feel alert and weary, is also regulated by working out as well.
Note: Although one psychological advantage of exercising is better sleep, sleep specialists advise against exercising right before bed.
2. Reducing stress, depression and anxiety
Exercising regularly can help you recover from issues with mental health by reducing stress and the symptoms of disorders like depression and anxiety.
Reduced stress levels are another mental advantage of working out. In other words, working out can make us all happier. Increasing your heart rate can actually cure stress-induced brain damage by increasing the creation of neurohormones like norepinephrine. Exercise also makes the sympathetic and central neural systems of the body interact with one another, enhancing the body's capacity to handle stress. Working out not only makes you happy but it also makes you forget negative thoughts and let you see a brighter side of things.
3. Increased self-esteem
Working out increases self-esteem and self-confidence.
Social media is rife with today's unrealistic standards of beauty and appearance. These generations now have good memories but depressing present-day realities. This is due to the fact that they are making a lot of effort to maintain these unrealistic standards, which causes them to develop dangerous habits or lifestyles like drug usage or self-starvation. By emphasizing the value of being active in physical activities in raising one's self-esteem and confidence, these can subsequently be decreased or eliminated. If you wish to lose weight, exercising can assist you in doing so, which is beneficial for your overall health and at the same time can boost your self-esteem.
4. Increased mental alertness
Physical Activities boost the brain and reduce its tiredness while increasing mental alertness. Exercise also improves low self-esteem and alleviates symptoms of social withdrawal.
Physical activities increase brain power in a variety of ways, from enhancing intelligence to enhancing memory. By bolstering the hippocampus, the area of the brain responsible for memory and learning, we prevent cognitive decline and memory loss. Studies have also shown that exercise increases mental acuity and creativity. So, if you're lacking inspiration, your big idea might be nearby if you take a quick stroll or jog.
5. Improved mood
A workout releases chemicals like endorphins and serotonin that improve your mood.
The body releases a number of hormones during workouts or physical activity, including serotonin and endorphins. Naturally, these hormones enhance mood, thought, and focus. Workouts is a well-known all-natural treatment for depression since it releases hormones that improve mood without the need for pharmaceuticals. Since depression is a threat to mental health, working out helps fight this by stimulating the production of these feel-good hormones.
The natural painkiller is endorphins, and it's time to feel good with serotonin. These neurotransmitters function as the body's natural narcotics and mood enhancers. Serotonin has several different roles in the body, but relaxation is its main function. It also regulates sleep, libido, hunger, and digestion. Additionally, serotonin is important for memory and multitasking. Serotonin and endorphins collaborate to support mental wellness by encouraging happiness.
Summary
I got numerous people whom I coach and all of them exponentially grew to love working out as they realized the importance of integrating it into their lifestyle. The advantages mentioned are just a few of the countless benefits of working out or exercising for your mental health. A jog, stroll, jumping, squats and other physical activities will not cost you much, but ironically, not doing so may cost you—your life. Make exercising part of your everyday activities. Try walking or cycling instead of using the car. Get off a train, car, or bus earlier and walk the rest of the way. Or spend some time walking your kids to school. Be active around the house by cleaning, gardening, washing the car, or cleaning the windows.
These are common tasks one can do every day but chooses not to because they feel inconvenienced. If in any case, you feel this, remember the five benefits above. I hope this article fuels your determination to continue exercising and may this inspire you to go the extra mile when it comes to being fit. Remember, exercise is known to improve physical health, but staying in shape can also improve mental health.
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Atanas Piskachev, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Atanas is a holistic health coach specializing in mindset performance, helping entrepreneurs and executives incorporate a healthy lifestyle into their hectic schedules.
He has over 10 years of experience in the field, working with various people and organizations globally to explore many different cultures and human behaviors.
By virtue of his brand AtanasFit, Atanas is committed to helping people raise the bar for their health and fitness through direct coaching, writing articles, and creating YouTube videos.
