The Benefits on your Mental Health Benefits through Exercise
You already know that exercise is good for your body. But did you know it can also boost your mood, improve your sleep, and help you deal with depression, anxiety, stress, and more?
There has never been a better time to talk about this subject especially as it's Mental Health week for our friends across the ditch in New Zealand.
The past couple of years have been tough and it’s easy to feel disconnected from the people and places that are important to us which can affect our Mental Health massively.
So, what are the mental health benefits of exercise?
Exercise is not just about bodybuilding or losing weight. Of course, exercise can improve your physical health and your physique, trim your waistline and even add years to your life. But is this what motivates most people to stay active?
No, absolutely not!
Most people exercise because of the enormous sense of well-being they get from it.
When asked, they say they feel much more energetic throughout the day, sleep better at night, have sharper memories, and feel more relaxed and positive about themselves and their lives - pretty special right?
On top of this, it’s also powerful medicine for many common mental health challenges which is incredibly fitting.
Research has found that exercise has a profoundly positive impact on depression, anxiety, and ADHD.
It also relieves stress, improves memory, and boosts your overall mood.
Even if you are not a fitness fanatic or love the gym, research has indicated that even light exercise can make a real difference.
No matter your age or fitness level, you can learn to use exercise as a powerful tool to deal with mental health problems, improve your energy and outlook, and get more out of life.
How active do I have to be to help my mental health?
Research from Sport New Zealand shows that physically active Kiwis are more likely to have good mental health.
People who do at least 2.5 hours of recreational physical activity each week have 51% higher odds of reporting good mental wellbeing.
Participation in at least 4.5 hours per week increases the odds to 65%!
Summer is coming, the days are getting longer and it's amazing the incredible benefits you can get from taking a daily walk, so pop on your favourite podcast, or playlist or text a friend and have a walking catch-up - your body and mind will thank you for it!
If you are looking to get started on your Fitness journey but are not sure where to begin, please do not hesitate to reach out and give our team an email or call.
We are here to help you with all your equipment needs and with over 50 years of experience combined - we are very educated within our field.
