The Benefits of Physical Activity for Mental Health: How to Improve Your Mental Health Through Exercise

Exercise is not just for physical health, it can also play a key role in improving our mental health. In the following article, we will discuss the benefits of physical activity for mental health and how to incorporate it into our daily lives.

Physical activity is any kind of movement that uses energy. It includes activities such as walking, running, cycling and swimming. Regular physical activity can have positive effects on both the body and mind, helping us to stay healthy and cope with stress more effectively.

Physical Activity and Mental Health

Physical activity has been shown to reduce levels of stress hormones such as cortisol in the body. It also releases endorphins which are chemicals that make us feel good and relaxed. Exercise can help to boost our moods and increase our feelings of wellbeing.

Regular physical activity can also help us to manage symptoms of anxiety or depression. It can distract us from negative thoughts or feelings that are associated with these conditions. Physical activity can also give us a sense of achievement which helps to improve self-esteem and confidence levels.

It is important to note that exercise alone cannot cure mental illness but it can be an effective part of treatment when combined with other therapies such as counselling or medication prescribed by your doctor or therapist.

Incorporating Exercise Into Your Life

When it comes to incorporating exercise into your life it is important to find an activity you enjoy doing so you are more likely to stick with it in the long term. This could be something like going for a walk every morning before work or playing team sports on weekends with friends or family members. You could also try joining a gym, yoga class or dance group if you prefer exercising indoors or prefer classes over exercising solo outdoors .

If you don’t have much experience exercising start off slow by setting reasonable goals such as going for a 10 minute walk each day then gradually increasing this time until you reach 30 minutes per day - this is the recommended amount most health professionals suggest aiming for daily in order to reap all the benefits from physical activity .

It’s also important to take regular breaks from exercise especially if you feel like you’re pushing yourself too hard - listen to your body’s signals when deciding how much exercise is enough for each day .

Another way of incorporating exercise into your life without having to go out and actually do it is by adding some simple stretching exercises into your daily routine - these don’t require too much energy but still offer lots of benefits such as improved flexibility, increased circulation and relaxation .

Conclusion

Exercising regularly has been shown to reduce stress levels, improve moods , increase self-esteem , reduce anxiety & depression symptoms , improve sleep quality & quantity , boost energy levels & help manage chronic conditions . Incorporating physical activity into your everyday life doesn’t have to be difficult either - start off slow & find an activity that works best for you then gradually increase intensity over time while listening carefully for any signs that indicate too much strain on your body .