You know that exercise is healthy for your body, but don’t forget that it’s also a great way to manage stress, anxiety and mood.
Top 10 reasons to exercise for your psychological health:
- Feels good. When you get your heart pumping your body releases endorphins (those ‘feel good’ chemicals in your brain). Endorphins trigger positive feelings. People feel better on the days they exercise because they have more endorphins floating around.
- Boosts self-confidence. It feels good when you accomplish exercise goals that you set for yourself. Even if you had a crappy day and you still managed to make it for a 15 minute run, you feel pretty proud of yourself.
- Lowers stress. When you workout regularly, you are less reactive to intense emotions and stress. Things just roll of your back more easily.
- Decreases your odds of getting sick. When you get sick, it’s easier to get cranky or just feel ‘blah’. Good news – people who exercise regularly get sick less often.
- Better sleep. Exercise increases your sleep drive. You can fall asleep more easily, AND sleep more deeply. And we all know a good night’s sleep helps you to cope better with life and improves your mood.
- Reduces depression and anxiety. Exercise changes the chemistry in our brain, resulting in a calming effect and reduction in feelings of anxiety. It also increases feel good chemicals in the brain and reduces chemicals that worsen symptoms of depression.
- Improves learning. Exercise increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain. More energy to the brain = increased brain functioning. Your memory will be sharper and your ability to concentrate will be enhanced, making it easier to learn.
- More energy. Feeling too tired to exercise? Yes, it’s true that it takes some energy to get going, but exercise actually leads to more energy overall. Just don’t exercise too close to bedtime, as that’ll get you too revved up to sleep.
- Increases social interactions. Exercise is a great activity to do with friends, and hanging out with others is a major mood booster!
- Gives you a break. We all need a break from our worries and things that stress us out. Exercise absorbs your attention so it gets your mind off stuff.
But I’m not a gym person. I’m way too self-conscious there. Exercise doesn’t have to be hanging out at a gym running on a treadmill or lifting weights. Exercise is anything that gets your body moving.
Here are some ideas to get you moving:
- Dancing
- Running
- Walking
- Biking
- Skate boarding
- Hiking
- Skating
- Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Aerobics
- Swimming
- Snowshoeing
- Yoga
- Tennis
- Lifting weights
- Volleyball
- Basketball
- Football
- Martial arts
- Paddle boarding
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Pilates
- Golf
- Roller blading
- Rock climbing
Change how you think about exercise. Exercise doesn’t need to be a continuous 30 or 60 minutes a day. It can be spurts of activity throughout the day or anything that gets you moving and ups your heart rate even if it’s just for 5 or 10 minutes.
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Top 10 reasons to exercise for your psychological health:
Here are some ideas to get you moving:
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