5 MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF FITNESS
You are helping far more than your physical body when you step on the treadmill or grab that set of hand weights. The connection between body and mind is a strong one, according to the American Psychological Association. By mastering your moves, you actually improve your mind. Here’s how moderate daily exercise makes an invaluable impact on your mental health!
1. Stress Relief
If your body feels good moving, your mind is bound to feel good, too! Exercise increases your overall health and your sense of well-being, which puts more pep in your step every day. The physical activity helps bump up the production of your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins.
2. Improved Cognitive Function
Moderate exercise has an impact on the brain by preventing cognitive decline. If you’ve personally struggled with memory or the ability to focus on multiple tasks simultaneously, the solution may be as simple as lacing up your running shoes. Exercise is very likely one of the most manageable and most cost-effective ways to improve cognitive function!
3. Boosts Your Sense of Accomplishment
Whether you’re running your first mile or finishing a marathon, there is most certainly a sense of accomplishment that accompanies every athletic feat. And let’s face it, that improves your self-esteem big time. Being accountable for your fitness regimen may also provide you with a sense of purpose, which further supports your mental health!
4. Boosts Happiness
You know that invincible feeling that you get after a good workout? There’s a reason for it post-sweat. You’re producing serotonin and norepinephrine. These chemicals increase in production with exercise and send feel-good messages to the brain. Think of them as your personal cheerleaders!
5. Relieves Depression
We already know that exercising releases feel-good chemicals and may give you a surprising bout of confidence, but its effects on depressive symptoms are innumerable. Exercise reduces anxiety, improves overall mood, and provides an opportunity for social interaction—not to mention, a challenging or fun workout will likely take your mind away from the things causing anxiety.
All of these exercise benefits are guaranteed to give you a sense of command over your body and of your life. Give us a call today and see how we can help you get started!
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