Wanting a fit body is completely normal. However, there are some great mental health benefits of exercise that are a bit unexpected. In the last few decades, various researches have shown that exercise provides some serious mental benefits. Studies indicate that even recreational gym visitors gained certain mental benefits from their training. So, here are some of the mental health benefits than can help you be something more than just a hottie on the beach:
You gain confidence
One of the major benefits of exercising is the level of confidence you gain. Regardless of your motivation, when you start achieving the goals you’ve set and raising the physical standard, you’ll start loving what you see in the mirror. Managing to achieve a physical goal can be extremely helpful for our confidence, regardless of your size, age or gender. Definitely a reason to keep your head up high!
Your stress is reduced
One of the most mentioned benefits of physical exercise is the stress-relief factor. If you have a bad hair day, or you just feel stressed out, a quick workout may just be the thing you need. Exercising increases the levels of norepinephrine, a chemical that regulates the way your brain reacts to stress. Sweating out the stress is better than hitting your pillow or picking a fight with a friend.
The “Happy” chemicals are produced in your body
Exercise releases endorphins, which are in charge of your happiness and euphoria. Regular exercise can help balance your hormones, and in return, you start feeling better. Even short exercises, like a 30-minute workout, can help elevate your mood significantly. There are various chemicals that are produced during workouts, and quite a number of those directly influence the way we feel. So, move that body and put a smile on that face!
It improves memory
One of the best ways to prevent cognitive decline is exercise. Studies have shown that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gets produced after regular 30 minutes workouts. This chemical makes new connections between neurotransmitters and helps improve overall memory. This process helps prevent degeneration of hippocampus. It all sounds quite serious, but honestly, how cool is that?
It helps you get more done
Just a short series of push-ups or sit-ups can boost your focus and mental strength. Exercise helps with general levels of concentration and helps with keeping the focus. If you’re dying to let off some steam, or looking for some inspiration to get down to studying, even a 10-minute walk around the block can help you get more stuff done.
It makes you start thinking positively
Another amazing mental benefit of exercising is that it helps you feel more positive. Exercising helps produce various brain chemicals that make you feel like you’re on top of the world. Also, achieving goals boosts your self-confidence, and improves your quality of life, which affects your way of thinking in a great way. In other words, it’s relaxing to sometimes see things through rose-colored glasses. Reality won’t just disappear, so decorate it a bit.
It helps you inspire people
Having a partner when exercising can be really helpful. No one wants to disappoint their partner, so team training makes people give their best. Helping others achieve goals, or being helped along the way can give you extra strength, and it can be just what you need. Training with a buddy or a team also improves your empathic and social skills.
It removes anxiety
As we’ve already mentioned – exercise produces various chemicals that are in charge of our feelings and general motivation. One of the great ways to relieve yourself from anxiety is exercising. Quite a number of psychiatrists have stated that sometimes best anxiety treatment is regular physical exercise.
It helps you learn to love your body
One of the reasons most of the people avoid going to the gym is the feeling of insecurity. Regular exercise helps you learn your limits and learn what your body is capable of. No matter the goals you’ve set for yourself, exercise helps you understand yourself and start to appreciate your body.
It helps fight depression
Another great benefit from exercise is that it helps relieve various symptoms of depression. Regular exercise helps with the regular production of various hormones and chemicals that are in charge of our brain’s way of reacting to depression. A lot of clinics include regular exercises for their depression patients, as they’ve proven to have an amazing effect.
In general, there are a lot of great mental health benefits that come from regular physical exercise. Don’t be lazy, take a towel, and hit that gym! Whether your lifting weights or cycling on an e-bike, you know it will help you feel way better afterward.
- 10 Amazing Mental Health Benefits of Exercise - June 29, 2017
