Sarasota, FL Counseling Center Discusses 5 Ways Exercise Impacts our Mental Health

Introduction

Often, when discussing the importance of exercise, people tend to negate the significance that it has on our mental health. The focus tends to be on the benefits that it has on our physical health. Physical activity has immense benefits for your physical health, but it's also good for your brain and mental health. Exercise can help you focus, improve memory and boost self confidence, reduce anxiety, and reduce depression. Here are some ways exercise effects our mental health which, might give you that little extra push to start an exercise regime.

Exercise can help improve mood and reduce anxiety.

Exercise is a natural stress reliever, which means it can be helpful in reducing feelings of anxiety. In fact, research has shown that people who exercise report feeling less anxious than those who don't work out regularly. When you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed by life's challenges, getting into the present moment can help you feel more grounded and relaxed--and this may be one reason why exercise is linked with lower levels of depression and anxiety symptoms.

Additionally, regular physical activity combats cortisol production--the hormone produced by your body when you're under stress that causes damage to cells throughout your body over time if left unchecked for too long!

Physical activity can help people lessen symptoms of depression.

Exercise can help people with depression. Research has shown that physical activity can improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression. This is because physical activity releases dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin in the brain--all of which are chemicals that make us feel good.

Working out can boost self-esteem and confidence.

Working out can also help you feel more confident and attractive. If you're worried about your body, exercise can make you feel better about yourself and give you a sense of control over your life. Plus, working out increases energy levels and makes it easier to get through the day feeling positive--which are both things that help us feel happier overall!

Physical activity can improve sleep and decrease stress levels.

Exercise can help you sleep better and reduce stress.

If you're feeling tired, exercise can be a great way to give your body what it needs. Research has shown that physical activity can improve sleep quality for people with insomnia or other sleeping disorders by reducing their anxiety levels, which can make it easier for them to fall asleep. In addition, regular exercise has been linked with lower levels of cortisol (the "stress hormone") in the body, which may be linked to helping us sleep better!

Exercising can improve your cognitive function, including memory and attention span, as well as your ability to process information quickly and accurately.

Exercising can improve your cognitive function, including memory and attention span, as well as your ability to process information quickly and accurately.

In a study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, researchers found that people who exercised regularly showed greater brain activity in areas associated with mental performance compared to those who did not exercise regularly.

Exercising can also help you focus on tasks at hand by reducing distractions from outside stimuli such as noise or other people's conversations around them (source). This is especially important when working on an assignment where accuracy is paramount for success such as writing an essay or finishing up an exam prep sheet before test day arrives!

Conclusion

Exercise is good for your mental health, and it's important to make time for it. If you have depression, anxiety, stress, or low self-esteem it might be good to start an exercise regime. Your first step can be small like going on a walk or, joining an exercise class. After 45 days of continually exercising you will notice feeling at ease and like you've adapted it into your daily routine. At this point it will have become a habit. If that doesn't work, try something else until you find something that does!