For those that have been into a fitness routine for a while, you likely already know about the many benefits of working out. Still, if you’re new to the process, it’s essential to know that there are mental health benefits from exercise you probably didn’t know existed.
If you’re looking for a way to combat stress or access some mental clarity, exercise is a great way to do that. Even a little bit of movement every day can help you in ways you didn’t think possible. For those experiencing a lot of worry and anxiety right now, we narrowed down some reasons why it’s so important to keep moving through it.
Reduce your daily stress
According to Harvard Medical School research, exercise helps to curb stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. In the absence of these hormones, you get flooded with positivity-inducing endorphins, which can significantly reduce the feeling of stress in your body.
Additionally, it can help your body produce more serotonin and dopamine, both chemicals in your brain that help you to feel better. So, while it might seem like you’re putting your body through something taxing, it’s improving your mental health.
Access your inner-confidence
It’s not just about how you look. Tackling a great exercise can make you feel so much better about yourself by the action of doing it alone. When it’s hard to pry yourself out of bed or head outside for a run, think about how much better you’ll feel knowing that you accomplished it.
Not only that, but the more consistent you are, the more likely you are to see results. If anything can motivate you, it’s seeing that hard work pay off.
Get back some mental clarity
Especially in trying times, finding ways to focus on the task at hand with so many outside influences can feel impossible. Research has shown that adults that participate in an aerobic exercise program for six months or longer can improve their flexible thinking, attention span, and even memory.
And lifting weights helps too. Adding weight training has been shown to improve multitasking so that you can switch from one task to the other with ease.
Supplement your depression and anxiety treatment
There’s no one size fits all for depression and anxiety; we all know that. But exercise can be a huge help in taking on those intense mental stressors. The National Institute of Mental Health found that living a more balanced and healthy lifestyle can work the same way that psychotherapy and medication do when it comes to depression.
Part of that balanced lifestyle includes consistent physical activity, better sleep, and whole-food meals. It can be tough to focus on your health when you’re battling depression. That’s why it’s not a cure-all. But if you can incorporate movement into our routine, you might seem some uplifting benefits.
As you can see, working out is about more than making your body look good or meeting your weigh-in goals. It’s about assisting you to have a more well rounded mental health regimen as well.
