Fitness and mental health are two words that don’t seem to go together. You’ve probably heard that exercise is good for your mental health. But what does that really mean?
Exercise has been shown to help with anxiety, depression, and stress. It can also improve sleep quality and reduce feelings of loneliness or isolation.
And it doesn’t have to be a huge time commitment either – just 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per day can make a difference!
In this blog post, we will give you the basics of fitness and mental health in order to equip you with a better understanding on the effects of fitness with your mental health.
Fitness and Mental Health
I’ve been thinking a lot about how these two topics are connected, especially for those with anxiety.
However, not everyone knows this connection or even realizes that they need to be more active in their day-to-day life because sitting all day can make it hard for your body to function properly.
Here, I have gathered what positive outcomes come with fitness when it comes to your mental health.
Effects of Fitness With Your Mental Health:
-Exercise is a way to release endorphins, which are hormones that make you feel happy and optimistic about life.
-Endurance exercise can lower your stress levels.
-Physical fitness has been shown to be beneficial for mental health in older adults because it reduces the risk of developing dementia later on.
-Working out can help you sleep better, so it’s a great time to practice mindfulness and meditation.
-Aerobic exercise is the most effective type of fitness for your mental health because it helps with depression by triggering neurotransmitters in the brain that reduce depressive symptoms.
-According to experts, resistance training or weightlifting can also help with depression because it increases levels of serotonin in the brain.
-Fitness can produce a sense of purpose and accomplishment, which is often lacking for individuals suffering from depression or other mental health issues.
-Exercising gives you an outlet to release pent up energy, anger, sadness or anxiety that might be affecting your mental health.
-The more fitness activities you pursue, the better your physical and mental health will be in general so it’s important not to limit yourself by sticking with just one type of exercise like running.
-Staying active can also help combat fatigue which is a common symptom of depression.
-Fitness helps people stay grounded in time and space, as they are more aware of what’s happening around them. This awareness helps to prevent feelings of detachment or dissociation that might make it difficult for someone suffering from mental health issues to feel in control of their life.
-Exercising can also be a form of self care because it gives us time to give our bodies the attention they need.
-In addition, fitness is an opportunity for people to socialize and make new friends or find mentors who are supportive in more ways than one.
I hope that the benefits listed above will inspire you to increase your fitness level. I know it can be difficult, but once you start seeing improvements in your physical and mental health, you will feel so much better about yourself that all those small challenges won’t seem as daunting anymore!
If you’re having a hard time creating your own workout plan, check out this post I created on how to make your workout plan in 4 steps.
FAQ
How does fitness affect mental health?
They both have a reciprocal relationship. Fitness provides physical, psychological, social benefits that help maintain or enhance your mental well-being. Regular exercise helps people develop more positive self-images and be better able to cope with challenges in their lives.
What activities help mental health?
Any physical exercise is great for your mental health care. Aerobic activities such as jogging, running, swimming or biking can have a positive impact on your mental health. However, be mindful of how hard you’re exerting yourself and always listen to cues about what feels good for you.
What are the benefits of fitness?
There are many benefits of fitness. In my opinion, the most important of it all is your mental health. Above is the list of the top benefits of it.
Are there any negative effects?
Yes, overtraining is the most common negative effect of fitness. So be mindful of how hard you’re working with it and when to take a break from it. If you have time take a look at this article I created about overtraining.
