Benefits of Exercise on your Mental Health

The benefits of exercise on mental health have been studied for years but it’s time we really start putting the word out more. With everything going on in the world, especially in this era, it’s easy to start losing motivation and feeling out of it. Exercise is so beneficial that doctors recommended trying out regular physical activity before they prescribe any type of medication. Here are some amazing things exercise can do for you.

Natural Medication for Depression and Anxiety:

- When life gets you down the best thing to do is try to get moving. Physical activity is the best natural medication for not only your mental health but all aspects of your life. Endorphins, which are part of your “feel good” chemicals, are produced by your brain and spinal cord. Getting up and moving releases these endorphins and gives you a similar feeling to morphine. You feel euphoric and gain a positive outlook on life!

Overall Brain Health and Decreased Stress:

- Starting to feel as though your memory is getting fuzzy? Exercise strengthens the hippocampus in our brain which prevents cognitive decline and memory loss. Getting a creative block? Doing something as simple as a walk or light jog can begin to clear your mind and give you a fresh reset. Speaking of clearing your mind, Moderate physical activity can reduce your amount of stress significantly and even reverse stress induced brain damage due to the increased production of norepinephrine.

Increased Confidence:

- When it comes to physical activity there is no minimum achievement. You're doing something for yourself, go you! The willingness to achieve something better for yourself is an accomplishment in and of itself. In the short-term aspect, exercise boosts our mood overall and puts us in a positive state of mind. In the long-term, increased exercise leads to an improvement of your body image and physical ability, which in turn, leads to higher self-esteem.

Regular exercise is truly a necessity for everyone. It helps in all aspects of your life and overall makes you a better, healthier, version of yourself. The best thing you can do when you feel down is to get your blood flowing. Ultimately, it’s important to remember that every step counts, even if it's small, you're still moving forward.