The Importance of Exercise and How It Can Improve Your Mental Health
Mental health is a critical part of an individual’s well-being. Someone with a healthy sense of self and confidence in their abilities can handle life’s obstacles more easily and efficiently. Exercise has proven benefits on the mind as much as it does the body. In fact, there is a direct link between exercise and mental health, as regular physical activity helps reduce stress and anxiety while increasing self-confidence, concentration, and memory.
What is Mental Health and Why Is It Important?
Mental health is defined as the absence of mental illness. While some may think that having a “mental illness” is an indicator of being unwell or having poor mental health, this isn’t always the case. People who suffer from anxiety or depression aren’t “ill,” they’re just experiencing an emotional or mental health issue that can be effectively combated.
How Does Exercise Help Mental Health?
Exercise has numerous benefits for your physical health. It can lower your risk of serious diseases, improve your mood, help you sleep better, and strengthen your bones and muscles. Now, new studies are also showing that regular physical activity can improve your mental health. For example, exercise can reduce your risk of developing anxiety disorders by up to 40%. It may also help control your depression symptoms and improve your overall self-confidence, concentration, and memory. Moreover, regular exercise is extremely beneficial for your brain. It can lower your risk of developing diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by up to 50%. Mental health benefits aside, exercise has a lot to offer for your physical health as well. It can help lower your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and certain types of cancers. It helps you manage your weight and improve your quality of sleep. All of this is evidence that physical activity can have a positive impact on your overall health and well-being.
Practical Ways to Incorporate Exercise into Your Day
If you want to start reaping the benefits of regular exercise, below are some tips to help you get into it:
– Make a commitment to yourself. Put your mental and physical health first and promise to make time for it. It is vital to prioritize exercise, just like any other important aspect of your life.
– Start small. If you’ve never been very active, don’t try to do everything at once. It’s common for people to bite off more than they can chew and give up quickly when they feel overwhelmed. Instead, start by finding activities you enjoy and can do easily. This will make it more likely for you to stick with it.
– Find an activity that works for you. If you’re having trouble finding an activity you enjoy, don’t give up. There are so many options out there, you’re bound to find something you’ll like. Physical activity can be a great tool for enhancing your life satisfaction. If you want to feel and look better, exercise is the way to go. It’s a natural stress reliever and can help improve your mood. It reduces anxiety, and depression, and boosts your general confidence.
This article was written by a therapist from Sensera – a self-help app that provides daily CBT audio sessions and exercises. The app helps people deal with a variety of mental issues (anxiety, low self-esteem, and relationship problems). Download Sensera now to become happier!
