Mental Health and Exercise

Yes, exercise has a multitude of physical benefits to the body that are very important. But, the mental benefits that come from exercise are just as important. Especially, when you have feelings of depression and anxiety, exercise can be a great way to relieve symptoms and manage your mental illness. People who exercise regularly tend to have more energy, have better feelings about themselves, sleep better at night and be more relaxed in their lives. 

Exercise and Depression

• Can treat mild-moderate depression almost as effectively and an antidepressant, but without the side effects
• Promotes a variety of changes in the brain that promote feelings and calm and well-being
• Releases endorphins that energize your spirits and make you feel good
• Exercise can also serve as a distraction and allow you to find time to yourself to gather your thoughts and do something positive for your health and well-being

Exercise and Anxiety

• Exercise is a natural and effective anti-anxiety treatment
• Relieves tension and stress, boosts physical and mental energy and enhances well-being through the release of endorphins
• Pay attention to your body and how it feels while working out instead of just zoning out
• This can improve your physical condition, as well as interrupting thoughts of negativity constantly running through your head

Other Mental and Emotional Benefits

• Sharper memory and thinking: stimulates growth of brain cells and helps age-related decline
• Higher self-esteem: when exercise becomes a habit, it can make you feel strong and powerful, giving you a better perception of your self-worth
• Better sleep: bursts of exercise in the morning or afternoon can help regulate your sleep patterns
• More energy: increasing your heart rate a few times a week will help give you a "get-up-and-go" mentality
• Higher resilience: exercise can help you deal with hardships in a healthy way, rather than resorting to drugs, alcohol or other negative behaviors

Staying Motivated While Struggling with Mental Health Issues

• Focus on activities you enjoy
• Any activity that gets you moving, counts as exercise and is beneficial
• Choose something that makes you happy such as throwing a frisbee with your dog, walking the dog or biking through your neighborhood
• Even gardening and home improvement are good activities to get you moving as well as give you a sense of accomplishment and purpose
• Be comfortable
• Choose a setting that you find calming or energizing
• Reward yourself
• Helps keep you motivated when you know you have a reward at the end of your workout
• Reward yourself with something that makes you happy such as a bubble bath, healthy smoothie or an extra episode of your favorite TV show
• Make exercise a social activity
• Exercising with friends or family makes it more fun and enjoyable
• Having someone to workout with can help keep you motivated to stick with it
• Having companionship when you are feeling down or anxious can be almost as important as the exercise itself