Why Exercise is Also Good for Your Mental Health

Exercise is known to be effective in reducing the chance of chronic illnesses, but studies are highlighting that it can also help in improving one’s mental health. A review entitled ‘The Role of Exercise in Management of Mental Health Disorders’ states that individuals who exercise frequently had better mental health outcomes compared to those who didn’t exercise. Data even suggested that regular physical activity could incrementally lower your risk of mental health illnesses. To further understand how exercise can directly influence your mental health, here’s what you need to know.

Exercise can help in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression

Physical inactivity may seem harmless, but its negative effects can build up over time. For example, SymptomFind provides multiple guides on healthy living, with articles that cover the health effects of various lifestyles. Their article on physical inactivity states that most people fall into this lifestyle because they lack time to exercise, they have sedentary leisure activities, and environmental factors get in the way. However, this does not only increase your risk of chronic illnesses, it can also impact your mental health. This is due to the fact that exercise releases hormones that can induce sensations of pleasure, such as endorphins. Therefore, individuals who exercise regularly can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression over time because their body releases endorphins. Any type of exercise works as long as it gets your heart pumping!

Your stress levels can decrease through regular workouts

Stress can be very unpleasant because it can make you more sensitive and irritable than usual. However, prolonged stress can increase your risk of mental health illnesses like anxiety and depression. The good news is that you can use exercise to relieve your stress. The boost of endorphins you get from exercise can also lower your stress levels. Most of all, physical activities can reduce the physical symptoms of stress. For instance, stretching exercises and core workouts can relieve lower back pain caused by stress. Walking, running, and swimming can also put you in a meditative state by allowing you to let go of your worries and concentrate on your body instead.

You can enhance your self-esteem through exercise

Regular exercise can improve your self-esteem by increasing your muscle mass and reducing your fat levels. While this is true, regular exercise can also boost your self-esteem and improve your mental health by making you believe in your capabilities. In a study, researcher Brett Gordon found out that resistance training had a positive affect on the participants’ self-esteem and mood, especially once they witnessed progress in their athletic skills. And because workouts become more difficult as the study progressed, the participants also saw how they could achieve goals by themselves. These individuals developed self-esteem and self-efficacy because they saw they were capable of putting in the work and excelling. Similarly, regular exercise can improve your self-esteem by showing you how strong you truly can be.

Physical activities can improve your sleep quality

Exercise can also boost your mental health by making positive changes in your sleep quality. Certified strength and conditioning specialist Dana Santas states that getting moderate-intensity exercise can condition your body for rest at night. Strength training can also be useful as it increases both your muscle mass and your body’s metabolic demand. This causes your body to burn more calories. As a result, you’ll get sleepier at the end of the day. By prepping your body for bedtime, exercise can help you get a sufficient amount of sleep. This allows your brain to process emotional information properly that can contribute to mental health conditions.

Exercise does not only improve your physical health, it can also boost your mental health. So if you want to invest in your overall health, you need to start exercising. You can start your journey by getting app-based fitness and nutrition coaching from Fire Time Whiskey. Our mix of fitness, nutrition, and behavior change psychology will ensure that you'll achieve your health and fitness goals one step at a time.