How does exercise benefit mental health?

We all know that exercise has a huge impact on your physical health. It can help you to better manage your weight, lower your blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels, boost your energy and strengthen your muscles and bones.

What you might not know is that exercise has just as many benefits for your mental health.   

The mental health benefits 

Physical activity doesn’t just help you look healthier – it can help you to feel healthier too. Doing regular exercise can improve your sleep and mood, provide you with educational benefits and reduce your stress and anxiety levels. Let’s look at each of these benefits in turn. 

Improved sleep 

Exercising regularly can help you to sleep better at night so you’ll feel less tired during the day. This is because consistent physical activity can reduce the symptoms of insomnia and allow you to spend more time in the restorative stages of sleep. 

To experience the full sleep benefits of exercise, it’s best to work out either in the mornings or afternoons. If you exercise too close to bedtime, you’ll go to sleep with an elevated body temperature and increased cortisol levels, making it more difficult for you to settle down.   

Complete your workout at least three hours before you go to bed to avoid sleep difficulties. Relaxing exercises like yoga can also promote better and deeper sleep.

Improved mood 

Exercise can have a profound impact on your mood by altering the chemicals in your body. When you exercise, you increase the endorphin and serotonin levels in your body. These chemicals help to regulate your emotions and improve your state of mind. 

Physical activity can also promote a better mood by increasing your self-esteem and sense of accomplishment. When you commit to a regular exercise routine, you’re taking an active role in bettering your health. This can help to improve your self-perception and confidence. 

Finally, exercising can help to reduce feelings of loneliness and boredom. For example, at the gym you’ll see other like-minded people to help you feel less isolated in your life. 

Educational benefits 

When you exercise, more blood gets pumped through your brain. This allows you to think more clearly and it can lead to better productivity at work or when studying. 

Exercise also increases the part of your brain known as the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory, and it creates more connections between the nerve cells in your brain. This can improve your recall and also prevent brain injury and disease. 

Reduced stress 

Almost any form of exercise can be stress-relieving. Being active helps you to let go of daily tensions and feel calmer. The “runner’s high” that people often refer to is the influx of endorphins that you experience when you exercise. It can help you to forget about any stressful thoughts or worries. 

While exercise may imitate feelings of stress, such as an increased heart rate, sweating and an activated “fight or flight” response, it actually helps your body work through these effects and it gives your system practice for dealing effectively with it. It also helps your digestive, cardiovascular and immune systems by protecting your body from the negative health impacts of stress. 

Reduced anxiety 

When you have a mental disorder such as anxiety or depression, exercise can often be the last thing that you feel like doing. It requires high levels of energy that you might not have, and the mere thought of leaving the house might cause you to feel even more anxious. 

If you’re in this situation, it’s crucial to start out small and begin with low-impact, gentle physical activity. Identify what you enjoy doing and try your best to stick with it. Not only will it give you a distraction from your cycle of anxious thoughts, allowing you to focus on a singular task and experience some relief, but it will release natural brain chemicals that will improve your overall mental wellbeing. 

How we can help

If you’re looking to exercise in Joondalup, HBF Arena is the place to be! 

We have a state-of-the-art gym where you can choose to join one of our range of group fitness classes, workout with one of our personal trainers or just workout yourself.  

Contact us today to find out more or simply drop in to check out our gym facilities. We’d love to see you!