Exercise provides many physical and mental health benefits. Not only does it pump up your feel-good hormones, also known as endorphins, physical exercise also combats stress, boosts self-confidence, promotes better sleep, sharpens your mental focus and improves your mood. Just about any form of physical exercise will reap these benefits. For the best results, make physical exercise a part of your daily routine.
Stress Relief
Although physical exercise will not solve all life's problems, it does improve your ability to think clearly when stressed, reduce anxiety and worrying as well as other physical, emotional and mental symptoms of stress. Physical exercise will also put you in a better mood and help to relieve the daily tension felt in your mind and body. Constant stress puts your health in jeopardy, increasing your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, problems with sleep and digestion as well as depression. Constant stress also increases your risk of memory loss.
Self-Esteem
When you're in a bad mood, chances are you also feel poorly about yourself. Physical exercise stops self-hatred in its tracks, making you look and feel good both physically and mentally, as well as boost your self-esteem and self-confidence. These results can be seen in both males and females of all ages, especially children. Physical exercise increases the self-esteem in handicapped children as well. According to the American Council on Exercise, this boost in self-esteem also improves your love relationships and your sex life.
Depression
Physical exercise might be the last thing on your to-do list, yet, as the Mayo Clinic explains, it is a healthy way to combat the blues. Physical exercise releases endorphins and other feel-good hormones that keep anxiety at bay as well as help you feel happy and content. Physical exercise also helps you relax, increases your energy level and offers a distraction that may help stop all those negative thoughts. Take up team-centric physical exercises such as basketball, volleyball or baseball, sign up for yoga or join a walking group. Building friendships through physical exercise is another healthy way to beat depression.
Mental Health
As you age, your mental health may start to deteriorate. Not only does this affect your memory, but it also impacts your thinking, learning and decision-making skills. As a result, you may feel upset, frustrated, helpless or depressed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, physical exercise helps to keep your brain sharp and boosts the production of new brain cells. Senior citizens, or those who suffer from mental health conditions such as Alzheimer's, may benefit greatly from physical exercise. Physical exercise also improves your focus and concentration.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Exercise and Stress: Get Moving to Combat Stress
- HelpGuide: Supercharge Your Life with Exercise
- Fitness.gov; The Influence of Exercise on Mental Health; Daniel M. Landers
- American Council on Exercise: Studies Show Exercise can Improve Your Sex Life
- Mayo Clinic: Depression and Anxiety: Exercise Eases Symptoms
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The Benefits of Physical Activity
