Exercise and Mental Health

We all know that exercise can make you look better, help your clothes fit better and bring out your muscle tone.

But one of the most important and underrated benefits of exercise is its effect on your mental health.

After the past few years we’ve all endured, mental health is more important than ever before. As we’ve emerged from lockdowns, isolation and limited social interaction, experts have learned that depression, anxiety and stress are at an all-time high.​

Of course physical health is important!

Exercise improves relative strength, bone density, cardiovascular health, hormone balance, blood sugar management, and more. Exercise can also improve your memory and self-esteem, boost your energy and lead to a better night’s sleep.​ It can also change the shape of your body when you lift weights and help you fit into your clothes better.

However, in regards to mental health, studies show that as little as 15 minutes of exercise each day can reduce depression, anxiety and stress.

The other great aspect of the emotional benefits of exercise is that you’ll feel them almost immediately … whereas the improvements in your physical appearance may take some time to show.​

If you’ve been inactive for a while, start slow. With the weather starting to improve, start with something simple like a walk or bike ride.

If you have a park nearby, you can mix in some push-ups or step-ups on a bench, or stop every hundred steps and do 10 squats.

Finally, exercise is something you can do with a friend or significant other … so you’ll both not only benefit from the exercise itself, but also the social interaction.

Exercise isn’t just a physical activity with physical benefits. In fact, the mental and emotional benefits of exercise may be even greater.