Benefits of Exercise
Some people would be surprised to find out that exercising does not benefit your physical appearance, but also your mental health, relationships, and overall happiness. Regardless of whether or not you are an athlete, here are some ways that exercise can improve both your cardiovascular and mental health.
Reducing stress: After a long day of work or studying, sometimes the last thing you might want to do is run around at the gym. However, one of the most effective benefits of exercise happens to be stress relief. Working up a sweat and getting your endorphins running can help manage a person’s physical and mental stress by increasing the amount of norepinephrine in your brain. The next time you are feeling mentally tired, head on over to the gym instead of into your bed.
Increasing happiness: You have probably heard that exercise increases the endorphins your brain, leading the feelings of happiness: this is true. Also true is the fact that happiness can help elevate symptoms of depression in clinically depressed individuals. So if you are feeling blue, exercise can be just as effective as any medication used to treat depression.
Improving self confidence: When you do things that make your body feel good, you start feeling good about yourself as well. Exercising can work to tone, strengthen, and tighten the muscles in your body, and all of these factors can work to improve your self-image.
Go outside: Getting a daily dose of vitamin D will help increase your mood and self esteem as well. A healthy lifestyle is one that takes time to appreciate and utilize all aspects of nature and life. Take some time each week to talk a walk outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.
Keep mentally strong: As we get older, our brains start to slow down. By incorporating exercise into our daily routine, we can decrease the likelihood of Alzheimer’s and other types of cognitive decline. For people between the ages of 25 and 45, working out is more important because it can prevent degeneration or the aspects of our brains that are devoted to memory and learning.
Decrease anxiety: Anxiety can be debilitating and sometimes exhausting. By exercising, you can reduce symptoms of anxiety. Studies have shown that the chemicals your brain releases before or after exercise can help you calm down.
Strengthen brain cells: If you exercise on a regular basis, you may be smarter than you were if you would choose to forgo the gym. Cardiovascular exercise creates new brain cells, which, in turn, improve an individual’s overall brain function and performance.
Addiction control: When you exercise, your brain releases a reward chemical, which is similar to the reward chemical that you feel in response to exercise, sex, drugs, food, etc. This is where addictions can come into play, as people can become addicted to dopamine. Luckily, exercise can help ease your addictions by de-prioritizing your cravings, leading you to live a healthier and happier life.
Encourage creativity: Exercise can also help boost creativity. For example, a gym session can increase our brain activity for up to two hours post-workout. So the next time you need some inspiration, start engaging in a blood-pumping exercise for good measure.