When people talk about physical activity, they often paraphrase Newton’s first law: an object in motion will stay in motion, and vice versa. This may feel like a cliche, but it’s repeated so often because it’s true. Once you get moving, keeping up with physical activity becomes easier and easier. And the benefits of physical activity speak for themselves. You may already know that staying active helps you maintain your weight and helps your body function, but did you know that it also helps your mind? Here are a few key ways physical activity benefits your mental health:
Stress Reduction
It may not feel that way in the moment, but sitting or laying down for hours on end stresses your body out. Getting active promotes the release of endorphins, happiness hormones that keep you motivated to keep going. Taking a nice walk outside can also distract you from what you’re worrying about or at least help you gain a new perspective. When you spend time moving, your body also has an easier time relaxing, which helps relieve stress.
Boosted Mood
When you’re active, your serotonin levels naturally increase. More serotonin means feeling happier overall. Since you feel more relaxed and more productive, you also begin to feel more confident and have higher self-esteem. After longer walks, runs or workouts, you begin to feel a sense of accomplishment as you reach personal goals.
Improved Cognitive Function
Constantly feeling stressed out weighs down on your brain’s ability to function. As you begin to feel better from becoming more active, you’ll notice that your brain has an easier time performing tasks like focus and concentration. Your ability to remember and learn new things will also increase over time. An active lifestyle can help you see things more clearly.
Anxiety and Depression Relief
Living with anxiety and depression can be challenging. Fortunately, consistent physical activity provides relief. Increased levels of serotonin and endorphins can combat depression and anxiety symptoms. Activities like walking outside and holding a few yoga poses can serve as coping mechanisms. Often with increased physical activity comes more social interaction, which can help with getting out of your own head.
Better Sleep
For those who struggle with sleep, exercise lends a helping hand. Exercising at a consistent time each day can help with regulation of sleep patterns, which leads to improved quality of sleep. Any exercise can make you feel more energized and alert during the day, especially when you also get enough sleep.
Many patients find that getting active is challenging, but staying active is easy. What’s important is taking that first step and finding a routine you enjoy. Try many different types of exercise if the first one you try doesn’t stick. Even a 30-minute walk every morning can improve your physical and mental health. Whatever it takes, get active, and stay active! You’ve got this!
