Beneficial effects of exercise for physical health are well-known. But did you know  exercise is good for your mental wellness also. 

Yes, according to research studies, regular exercise provides enormous mental health benefits in the form of improved mood, good sleep pattern and reduction of stress level.

There are several ways to improve mental wellness. However, in this era of exponential growth, regular exercise is a cost-effective way to improve your mental well-being and quality of life.

Exercise to improve self-worth

Self-worth is a vital element of mental wellness. When you feel good about yourself, you feel good about everything. Respecting the way you are is the most rewarding experience of your life. A sense of self-worth gives you an opportunity to recognize and accept your responsibility and become a better version of yourself.

People who exercise regularly have better endurance and feel energetic throughout the day. Even a modest amount of exercise is sufficient to relieve a stress-induced muscle tension and feels more relax. 

Exercise also releases an endorphin, a feel-good hormone, that energizes your spirit. A sense of feeling good enhances the level of mental clarity. When exercise becomes a habit, it can make you feel strong and powerful. Thus, a combination of  energy, positive mood and mental alertness, fosters your sense of self-worth and self-esteem.

Staying active builds a positive frame of mind and makes you productive. Engaging yourself in physical activities, meditation and yoga helps to boost your mood and cope with negative emotions in a healthy way. 

Exercise brings enormous sense of well-being which improves self-efficacy. This optimistic outlook keeps you motivated and helps to get more out of your life. When you get engage on various movements of body parts and get connected with nature, exercise reminds you about importance of word ‘balance’ in the life.

Exercise to reduce anxiety and depression

Both anxiety and depression are commonly seen mental health issues. If not properly addressed, both can have a harmful impact on overall well-being and quality of life. 

Aerobic exercises such as jogging, walking, cycling and swimming play an important role in reducing anxiety and depression. Likewise, hobbies such as gardening and dancing are known to improve mood. 

This exercise-induced improvement in the mood is probably due to increase in blood circulation to the parts of the brain that involves in the control of motivation, mood and fear responses. It promotes several kinds of changes in the brain, including neural growth and reduction in inflammation. Even short bursts of exercise can regulate sleep pattern that promotes the feeling of calmness and well-being.

Exercise to break vicious cycle of overthinking

Rumination is a common problem for a majority of people. Getting stuck in the spiral of negative thoughts is a sure sign of overthinking. While overthinking is not a mental health issue, but excessive worry can be a reason for impaired quality of life.

Exercise distracts you from your routine life, which help to break out the vicious cycle of negative thoughts that feeds overthinking. 

Exercises like yoga and meditation initiate your mind to focus on present moment in the life. This approach helps you to get rid of unwanted thoughts pile up in your mind that unnecessarily creates insecurity and dissatisfaction.

Exercise to improve social interaction

Social ties are good to lead happy, healthy and longer life. When you are well connected with people, you feel safe, secured and being loved. Good social connections help to lighten your mood and share your concerns.

The sense of feeling good help you to get to connect with people within the community and surrounding. A combination of mental alertness, energy and positive mood strengthens your relationship at family and workplace. 

Regular exercise gives you more chances to meet and socialize with people. Just exchanging a friendly smile or greeting as you walk around is sufficient to boost your mood.

How much exercise is good for improving mental wellness

Just a 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week is sufficient to build mental resilience. Aerobic exercises, including jogging, running, cycling, skipping with rope, swimming and lifting weights plays an important role in building mental health. Likewise, you can reap the benefits of mood-elevating exercise by getting engage in hobbies like gardening, dancing, hiking and trekking. 

Mental health benefits of yoga and meditation incorporating body mind integration are well-documented. If all these exercises seems impossible for you, starting small with daily 10 minutes’ walk is enough to make a difference. Just try to stick to scheduling and do what is the right exercise for you. 

Our body is made to move, so respect it by staying active.

Also Check : Benefits Of Yoga For Mental Health

Disclaimer 

Mediclin Brain Health’s content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.