Everyone knows that exercise is good for our body, but most of us don't know that it boosts our mood, improves our sleep, can overcome depression, anxiety, stress, and much more.
Exercise can improve your physical health, trim your waistline, improve your sex life, and even add years to your life. But that’s not what motivates most people to stay active. People who exercise regularly tend to do so because it gives them an enormous sense of well-being. They feel more energetic throughout the day, sleep better at night, have sharper memories, and feel more relaxed and positive about themselves and their lives. And it’s also a powerful medicine for many common mental health challenges.
Research indicates that modest amounts of 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.
Exercise & Depression
Studies show that exercise can treat mild to moderate depression as effectively as antidepressant medication without the side-effects. As a recent study done by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that running for 15 minutes a day or walking for an hour reduces the risk of major depression by 26%. In addition to relieving depression symptoms, research also shows that maintaining an exercise schedule can prevent you from relapsing.
Exercise is a powerful depression fighter. Most importantly, it promotes all kinds of changes in the brain, including neural growth, reduced inflammation, and new activity patterns that promote feelings of calm and well-being. It also releases endorphins, powerful chemicals in your brain that energize your spirits and make you feel good. Finally, exercise can also serve as a distraction, allowing you to find some quiet time to break out of the cycle of negative thoughts that feed depression.
Exercise & Stress
When you are under stress, your muscles may be tense, especially in your face, neck, and shoulders, leaving you with back or neck pain, or painful headaches. You may feel a tightness in your chest, a pounding pulse, or muscle cramps. You may also experience problems such as heartburn, insomnia, stomachache, diarrhea, or frequent urination. The worry and discomfort of all these physical symptoms can in turn lead to even more stress, creating a vicious cycle between your mind and body.
Exercising is an effective way to break this cycle. As well as releasing endorphins in the brain, physical activity helps to relax the muscles and relieve tension in the body. Since the body and mind are so closely linked, when your body feels better so, too, will your mind.
Other Benefits of Exercise
More Energy
A few minutes of exercise increases your heart rate several times a week and gives you more get-up-and-go.
Better Sleep
If you prefer to exercise at night, relaxing exercises such as yoga or gentle stretching can help promote sleep.
Making Exercise a part of your Life
Make exercise as a habit and necessity to overcome a lot of problems. Exercise make our brain relax and it is also good for decision making. It make our mind fresh and helps to see the life in other way without stress & depression.