The Psychological Benefits of Exercise
September 13th 2006 02:42
The Psychological Benefits of Exercise
We all know that the physical benefits of exercise are plentiful: losing weight, gaining muscle, maintaining a healthy heart, etc. But what about the effects that working out has on your mind? I know that when I’ve had a hard day and come home dead tired, that’s when I need exercise the most. It may sound stupid, and that I want to drain myself even further; but on the contrary, I get off the treadmill totally refreshed and revitalized - like I’ve just had 10 hours sleep and a cold swim!
When you’re totally mentally exhausted, exercise is what the body needs to give you a kick-start back on track. To free your mind from worries and get you focused on something else. Exercise is a great stress reliever – it’s a bit of ‘me’ time where you can just listen to the music you like, or watch TV, be outside with nature or spend some time with your friends/family. This leads to increased mental alertness too.
Claims have been made that exercise improves memory and thinking, and decreases the chance of depression and anxiety. There is good reason behind these claims. Exercise can divert or distract people from anxiety and depression-producing stressors (e.g. parents, school, etc). Also, if you are working out at a gym or park, social contact works to reduce the isolation typically associated with depression.
Another reason for the improvements in psychological well-being is that exercise alters various neurotransmitters within the brain which is what medication to treat problems like anxiety and depression aims to do. Prolonged exercise can even release endorphins (e.g. in “the runner’s high”) which gives an overall sense of well-being. (A much less healthy way of benefiting from endorphins is to eat some chocolate!).
A top way that exercising can make you feel good is the general feeling that you are doing something beneficial for your body – you’re actively trying to reduce your weight and maintain good health. When you start seeing results from your training it makes you feel proud and accomplished. This can enhance body-image perception and self-esteem.
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We all know that the physical benefits of exercise are plentiful: losing weight, gaining muscle, maintaining a healthy heart, etc. But what about the effects that working out has on your mind? I know that when I’ve had a hard day and come home dead tired, that’s when I need exercise the most. It may sound stupid, and that I want to drain myself even further; but on the contrary, I get off the treadmill totally refreshed and revitalized - like I’ve just had 10 hours sleep and a cold swim!
Exercise is physically and mentally stimulating too...
When you’re totally mentally exhausted, exercise is what the body needs to give you a kick-start back on track. To free your mind from worries and get you focused on something else. Exercise is a great stress reliever – it’s a bit of ‘me’ time where you can just listen to the music you like, or watch TV, be outside with nature or spend some time with your friends/family. This leads to increased mental alertness too.
Claims have been made that exercise improves memory and thinking, and decreases the chance of depression and anxiety. There is good reason behind these claims. Exercise can divert or distract people from anxiety and depression-producing stressors (e.g. parents, school, etc). Also, if you are working out at a gym or park, social contact works to reduce the isolation typically associated with depression.
Another reason for the improvements in psychological well-being is that exercise alters various neurotransmitters within the brain which is what medication to treat problems like anxiety and depression aims to do. Prolonged exercise can even release endorphins (e.g. in “the runner’s high”) which gives an overall sense of well-being. (A much less healthy way of benefiting from endorphins is to eat some chocolate!).
A top way that exercising can make you feel good is the general feeling that you are doing something beneficial for your body – you’re actively trying to reduce your weight and maintain good health. When you start seeing results from your training it makes you feel proud and accomplished. This can enhance body-image perception and self-esteem.
Image part of the Public Domain
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