- by Kelly Miller
- 3 minute read
Mental Health and Fitness Are Connected
Written By: Jackie, General ManagerI am sure you have heard it before that fitness is good for your physical health. But did you know that fitness can have an equal or more profound positive effect on your mental health as well? For many years the fitness industry has only focused on the physical aspects of fitness such as weight control, better energy, decreased risk of certain diseases, better blood pressure, and so forth.
The focus now is also brain health as well as body health!
The psychological benefits of exercise can include:
- easing symptoms of depression
- reducing anxiety
- improve self-esteem
- improve confidence in self
- feeling more energized and accomplished
- improved sense of satisfaction with oneself (just to name a few).
Exercise not only changes your BODY, it changes your MIND, your ATTITUDE, and your MOOD.
Even simple, moderate exercise throughout the week can produce feelings of happiness. Being active will release chemicals in the brain that make you feel good, boosting your self-esteem. Being active will also help you concentrate better and improve your sleep.
Finding an activity that you enjoy doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as going for a walk in your neighbourhood or local trail. The key is to find something that you enjoy and can give you a goal to aim for. If you can get outside and enjoy the outdoors a few times a week, this can have even more positive effects on your mental health. Connecting with nature and fresh air can give you a sense of peace and calmness that you would otherwise not find.
Fitness is not about being better than someone else…. It’s about being better than you used to be.
One of the things I find people use as a deterrent is that they choose not to make time for themselves, or they compare themselves to others. I get that!! I have been there and used this same excuse myself. One of the worst things you can do for yourself is to compare yourself to others.
The only person you need to do better than is YOURSELF! Once you understand this reasoning, the rest will fall right into place.
Your fitness is 100% mental! Your body won’t go, where your mind doesn’t push it!
Exercise has so many positive effects on the brain and these last couple of years have proven to be challenging, not only emotionally and physically, but more so mentally. A fitness routine has been found to reduce those feelings of anxiety, depression, and mood.
Having this routine in my life has made a world of difference. I know other members of our gym have also commented that if it wasn’t for maintaining their fitness routine (virtually or in-person), they would not have survived the emotional ups and downs with the pandemic.
Your body can do it. It’s time to convince your mind.
Cognitive functions have also been shown to improve with a fitness routine. As you begin to exercise, you increase your heart rate, which in turn pumps more oxygen to the brain. As you continue to exercise regularly you will begin to promote the growth of new brain cells, as you increase the blood flow to the brain. There has been a lot of research done on this topic, especially in the aging population who may suffer from some sort of cognitive impairment.
Exercise is the single best thing you can do for your brain in terms of mood, memory, and learning.