We all know the many physiological benefits of exercise: weight loss, lower blood pressure, lower chance of diabetes, more energy, and so on.
But what about the psychological merits of movement? From reducing depression and anxiety to improving memory, the psychological health advantages of exercise are endless.
Exercise works just as well for your brain as it does for your body. These five psychological benefits of exercise in this list will have you strapping on your shoes and walking out the door.
Help with anxiety and depression.
Exercise is a proven mood booster that decreases symptoms of depression and anxiety. Exercise boosts endorphins, the so-called "feel good" chemical released by the brain and spinal cord, generating euphoria and joy.
Even just an hour a week of exercise can help with depression and anxiety, so much so that some doctors recommend you give exercise a try for depression and anxiety before taking medication.
Decreased stress
Exercise’s mental health benefits also include reducing stress, and who doesn’t want to be happy?
Heart rate produces a climate to reverse stress-induced brain damage because neurohormones such as norepinephrine make you think differently in stressful situations by opening your mind and your mood when we exercise, too, our central and sympathetic nervous systems have to communicate, the communication that increases the body’s overall ability to endure stress.
Improved self-esteem and self-confidence
There is no shortage of physical successes through exercise, whether it be greater strength, weight loss, or increased muscle mass. The first is that all those feats can be a real shot of confidence—and the confidence that follows.
You want slimmer skin and arms and the ability to walk up a hill without gasping—sometimes, it doesn’t even register. Improved self-confidence and self-esteem are only one of the many benefits of exercise, which benefits your body, mind, and soul.
Better sleep
If you can’t get to sleep, exercise will help with that, too. Exercise cools the body, and calms the body’s overactive brain, so less sheep-counting and more sleep. Through exercise, you keep your circadian rhythm in check. The body’s built-in timekeeper determines when we’re sleeping and when we’re awake is its circadian rhythm. (Being able to sleep better is also a psychological side-effect of exercising but sleep researchers don’t suggest doing it at bedtime.)
Brain boost
Exercise powers the brain in different ways, from intelligence to memory. Cardiovascular exercise in mice and humans seems to create new brain cells—neurogenesis—and improve overall brain function.
Even better, it guards dementia and memory loss by strengthening the hippocampus, the area of the brain where learning and memory happen. Exercise has also been found to boost creativity and mental focus. Unless you have some inspiration to get you started, go for a walk or jog around
Next Steps
Are you curious about exercise’s mental health benefits? Or what physical activity can do for depression or anxiety? Talk to Healthy Families of Albuquerque by calling 505-842-9911 to schedule counseling to learn more about exercise mental health benefits.
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