Exercise is important. Keeping to a routine and getting regular exercise is essential for your health and a great way to help motivate yourself to exercise is to purchase some equipment you can use at home and incorporate it into a basic 15-minute workout that you can do every day. Here you’ll find a range of fitness dumbbells that can get you started on your health journey. So, we all know how exercise can help you physically and the important role it plays in a healthy lifestyle. But how can working out improve your mental health? You should keep both your mind and your body active as much as possible and here is how it can help you.
Depression
Exercise has been shown to have a significant impact on depression, an impact comparable to anti-depressants but without the side effects. Exercise helps promote changes in the brain such as neural growth, reduce inflammation and new activity patterns that promote a feeling of calm and contentment. Exercise is also known to release endorphins, a powerful chemical that helps energise you and boost your happiness making you feel good. As well as the effect it has on your brain chemistry, exercise can also serve as a distraction that gives you a much-needed break from that cycle of negative thinking.
Anxiety
Exercising relieves the tension and stress that can exacerbate your anxiety. It boosts your energy levels through the release of endorphins which can help make you feel less overwhelmed. Again, this serves as a distraction from whatever is worrying you and helps direct your attention to something productive.
Stress
Stress can have a physical effect on your body – your muscles may be tense, it can cause a tightness in your chest and cause your heart to pound. Stress can also affect your sleep and your digestive system. Aching muscles such as your sore neck and back and painful headaches can all be alleviated through exercise. As well as the aforementioned endorphin rush, working out can help relax your muscles and relieve tension in your body. When your body starts to feel better your mind will follow.
ADHD
Exercising is possibly one of the most effective ways to treat the symptoms of ADHD. It helps you to improve concentration, motivation and memory as well as boost your mood. Dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin all go towards improving your focus and attention – all of these are boosted through exercising.
Self-esteem
Regular exercise impacts your overall mood and keeping to your routine and building up your fitness will improve your overall self-worth. You will feel stronger and more powerful, you will feel better about your appearance and will get a sense of achievement with every workout.
Improved memory
The endorphins that help you to feel better also help you to concentrate and enhance your mental focus. Exercise also helps stimulate the growth of new brain cells with can stave off age-related decline and improve your short and long-term memory.
Ellen Diamond did her degree in psychology at the University of Edinburgh. She is interested in mental health and well-being.
