5 Ways Exercise Can Help Improve Your Mental Health
Mental health can be a taboo topic for a lot of people. It is difficult for you to talk about your mental health struggles with others and find an outlet to help you get through whatever you are struggling with when you feel you have no one in your corner. When it comes to mental health, first and foremost, it is important to remember that you are loved, and there are resources for help (links available below).
There are several ways to search for outlets to express your feelings. Writing in a journal, either non-fiction or fiction, making music, and, exercising are all popular ways. For many people, exercise is a great way to help improve their mental health. We have put together a list of five ways in which exercise can help to improve your mental health.
- You Become More Confident in Yourself. Regular exercise, over time, produces results that can also provide a level of confidence that will be exuded from within. Looking at yourself in the mirror, you will feel like a different and happier person, which will be evident to others in how you present yourself. Appearance does not matter, but it is all in how you feel on the inside.
- You’re Less Stressed Out during the Day. It has been proven that exercising, (whether it is walking on a treadmill or yoga), puts you in a better mood than if you did not exercise at all and just sat around all day. Doctors also recommended exercise to release stress, as any form of physical activity increases endorphins that make you feel good.
- Better Sleep. Give yourself a couple of hours before bed and get a little exercise in. Whether you are doing yoga or a little bit of cardio, exercising before bed can help calm your mind and lessen the amount of time your brain would be on overdrive, thinking about stressors in your life.
- Living Healthier and Longer. It is no secret that the healthier you eat, and the more exercise you consistently do, the healthier and longer you live. For at least twenty to thirty minutes, regular exercise every day or every other day lowers the chance of diseases and cancers.
- Improves Your Concentration Skills. Regular exercise helps to increase your chances of better memory. It was researched by scientists that exercises, such as walking, or cycling before you begin learning, can help increase memory. With exercise, you do not have to go all-out with your workout. A good, consistent, twenty to thirty minutes of walking can also help delay the onset of dementia.
Why Is Balancing Your Mental Health Important?
Understandably, exercising is not the only solution for ensuring that your mental health is balanced. Still, it can be a beneficial factor in your life, because it is a great stress-reliever. However, it is also important to remember that there are other resources if you feel down about life. And talking to a doctor, friend, family member, or any other person you feel is a solid support system, is great because having a solid sense of support is always beneficial.
Sources:
Suicide Prevention Hotline (Resource for help)
National Alliance on Mental Illness (Resource for help)
The Trevor Project (Resource for help)
Crisis Text Line (Resource for help)
Resources for article:
Walden University- 5 Mental Benefits of Exercise Article
WebMD- Health Benefits of Exercise Article
The Guardian- How Physical Exercise Makes Your Brain Work Better Article