The benefits of exercise are very well known. It can help you get fitter and have a healthier body, but what effect can it have on your mind and mental health? There is a very important relationship between the two, and anyone wanting to improve their mental health should consider fitness. You should also consider exercise and fitness whatever your current state of mind, as there are so many benefits. So, how can exercise benefit you? And what kind of effects can you expect to see? Read on to see how you can change your life by making a few healthy choices each week, and when you put in the effort you can receive great rewards.
Building New Relationships
There are many individual exercises and activities you can do, whether it be a relaxing swim in the pool or spending some time alone with your thoughts. But exercise often brings with it the chance to build new relationships with people. Joining a gym, sports team or fitness class can be a great way to spend time with others.
Forging new relationships that are built on something positive like fitness often fills people with positivity. Having other people rely on you and being needed within your group also gives people a sense of purpose and lets them know that they are needed and valued. Exercise highlights these relationships with others and celebrates them.
Endorphins
Exercise releases adrenaline and a rush of endorphins, which gives us a sense of contentment, happiness, and well-being when we have work out hard. These positive feelings can have a great effect on anxiety and depression, and exercise often has an amazing effect on a person’s recovery.
Although no mental illnesses can be cured overnight, learning ways to cope and deal with your thoughts and symptoms in a healthy way is a useful tool to possess. Remember, if you do need more than exercise, make sure you consider therapy. When you put your mind, body, and soul into something, your body rewards you for it with an amazing sense of accomplishment.
Pride
Another important aspect of exercise and fitness is the sense of pride that it makes you feel. Fitness goals and accomplishments come in all shapes and sizes, such as being able to jog non-stop for 10 minutes, swim 3000 meters, or simply to get out of bed in the morning. Every goal is individual and working hard for something then achieving it can evoke an incredible sense of pride and self-worth. Having that extra bit of self-confidence and pride can make anyone feel great and can be especially helpful when struggling with your mental health.
There are so many more reasons to exercise than simply to stay fit, although that is a good enough reason in itself. It can have incredible effects on your mental health; it can relax you, help you build new relationships, and instill a sense of self-worth.
Healthyholic 