Physical and mental health often go hand in hand, and exercise has some fantastic benefits for your mental health.
Doing exercise doesn’t mean you need to go to the gym or join an expensive club- it could be as simple as going for a walk after work, or picking up an old hobby.
The best types of exercise for mental health is whatever helps keep your body and mind as fit and healthy as possible, and in this post I’ve come up with 5 fantastic benefits of exercise for your mental health.
#1 Exercise gets you out and about
Whether you want to pick up running, tennis or a team sport- exercise gets you out and about, and it can be a great way to just switch off from the rest of the world.
Even if it’s just a home workout, exercise is great for getting you out of bed and giving you something to do.
This is particularly important if you’re currently working from home or looking for a job, as it gives you a reason to get out and about, and away from your computer screen.
#2 You meet new people
One big benefit of exercise for your mental health is that it can always be done with other people- making it a social and healthy hobby.
You don’t have to join a team to enjoy social exercise, you could go running with a friend or even invite them over for a fun home workout.
Creating links with other people is a great way to boost your mental health, and exercise can give you the means to do that while staying fit.
#3 Exercise is a good distraction
Let’s face it, the current world situation is still pretty stressful- and combined with the pressures of modern life, stress is bound to take its toll on your mental health.
Exercise can be a great way to combat this! Working out gives you a great distraction from everything else, and if you’re challenging yourself, nothing else will be in your mind as you focus on your fitness.
#4 Release those endorphins!
Exercise is known to release endorphins in the brain, which triggers a positive feeling in the body.
So there’s actual scientific proof that exercise can help your mental health- and there's definitely a link between mental health, and your physical fitness.
#5 You feel good about yourself
Of course, you don’t need exercise or healthy habits to feel good about yourself- but when you’ve done a particularly fun workout or mastered a hard move, you always feel good about it, and you’re proud of what you’ve accomplished.
These positive thoughts are a great little boost to your self-esteem and make you feel good about yourself when you need a pick-up.
Conclusion
Whatever exercise you enjoy, there’s no doubt working out and staying active is great for your mind, and can bring along some serious mental health benefits.
So get out and walk your dog, follow a fun dance workout online, or join a Zumba class- and remember that above all, exercise should always be fun!
This guest post was written by The Sporting Blog, a growing home for health and fitness content, discussing subjects such as healthy eating, mental well-being, sport and more.
Check out The Sporting Blog site or find out more on Twitter.
Sarah xoxoxo
