The power of exercise on your mental health

Exercising is not only beneficial for our physical health and fitness goals, but it can also be greatly beneficial for our mental health too. 

Research actually shows that those who engage in regular exercise have overall better mental health & emotional wellbeing, as opposed to those who don’t regularly exercise. Research also shows that exercising regularly can actually also reduce the risk of developing mental illness in the future, and can also help treat any current mental health conditions and overcome them.

Many individuals may struggle with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, stress management, the cognitive side of physical illnesses such as fibromyalgia. Doing regular exercise such as running, power walking, swimming, fitness boxing and pilates can greatly help a person to gradually overcome their mental health issues.

In addition to this, it can also help to boost self-esteem, cognitive function and your moods into more positive ones as opposed to negative, aid with stress management, and keep your overall mental health very healthy and positive. Regular exercise can also help you to sleep better as well.

With all that being said, many people may see the benefit of exercise on mental health, but may be faced with certain obstacles to commit to it.

If finances is an obstacle, there are local community centres that can offer affordable exercise groups, and there are always plenty of hiking trails around for jogging and walking purposes, as well as your local swimming pool. If you have private health insurance, you may be able to include a gym membership as part of a mental health care plan.

If motivation is an obstacle, find an accountability buddy to help keep you motivated. Bring a friend to the gym or to your hike. Make it a “fun activity” rather than a chore. Remember your “why”. Why you started, why you are exercising, why you are committing to it. Remember your goals and envision what it’ll be like when you finally reach them.

Combine that regular exercise with a healthy diet, and boom. You’ve got all the tools you need for a successful exercise routine and a healthier mindset. 

References:

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/exercise-and-mental-health