With the modern global struggles of metabolic syndrome and obesity, lifestyle changes are a very cost-efficient way to improve our health, both physically and mentally. Modifications to our everyday lives, and including exercise into our daily routines, can greatly benefit the state of our mental health. This becomes paramount during this unprecedented time of social and professional disruption. With Covid-19 presenting us all with new challenges and un-preferred ways of daily living, maintaining our health should be our overriding priority.Getting more out of our lives
Frequent exercise can have an extraordinary effect on depression and anxiety. It also relieves stress, increases memory, aids sleep, and improves our overall mood. And the good news is you don’t have to work like an athlete to reap the rewards, as small amounts of exercise can result in real change. Despite age or ability, we are all able to use exercise as a great tool for dealing with mental health issues, improving your vigour and attitude, and getting more out of our lives.
We start by modifying the way we see exercise. It’s a detriment to ourselves to view exercise as something we ‘have to do’, or even as something we ‘should do’. We should ideally view exercise as something we choose to do and enjoy, because we recognise the power of its positive effects on our lives. Physical activity has a huge potential to enhance our wellbeing. Even a short burst of 10 minutes’ brisk walking increases our mental alertness, energy and positive mood.
Let’s talk about endorphins
Each time you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. Endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that alter and your sensitivity to pain. They also prompt a positive reaction in the body, similar to the effects of morphine. Whether you’re experiencing a simple case of the winter blues or more persistent spells of depression, exercise can help to improve your mood. Endorphins are released by the body when it is experiencing stress or in pain. Exercise can help to replicate the sensations of stress and pain, causing our body to release them. Endorphins are efficient at reducing pain, relieving emotional stress and developing a sense of well-being. Endorphin levels are an important factor in depression and other issues.
Decent exercise can ease sleep-related issues
A moderate amount of aerobic exercise increases the amount of deep sleep we have each night. Deep sleep (or Slow-wave sleep), is where the brain and body have their best chance to refresh. Exercise also helps to soothe your mood and decompress the mind, a mental practice that is vital for naturally transitioning to good sleep. Decent exercise can ease sleep-related issues and allow you to get an ample amount of rest. This is a two sided-coin as inadequate or insufficient sleep can result in lower levels of physical activity and exercise the following day, worsening the cycle of poor exercise and poor sleep.
So what’s the bottom line? Let’s reflect on what we’ve learned. Exercise provides us with numerous benefits. It helps us to develop some physical and mental fatigue for a better night’s sleep. It also allows our body to release endorphins which drastically improve our mood. Exercise gives us a chance to focus on something other than troublesome thoughts, and temporarily distracts us from the hustle and bustle of daily life. It’s also fantastic for our own self-image and confidence. All of these factors together make exercise an invaluable tool for combating mental health issues.
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Dustin Hone
