Many of us already know that exercise is a great way to relieve stress, but that is just one of the many ways that exercise can improve your mental health. Researchers have confirmed that exercise improves memory, boosts creativity, and can even be a supportive factor for treating anxiety and depression. Duke university reported that 30 minutes of brisk exercise three times a week was just as effective as drug therapy for treating symptoms of depression in the short term — and continuing regular exercise reduced the chances of depression returning.
How does exercise work it’s magic on your brain and your mood? There are several ways that this can happen:
Exercise promotes a healthy and supportive chemical balance in your brain.
Exercise increases endorphins, which create feelings of happiness and euphoria, while reducing the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. It also increases concentrations of norepinephrine, a chemical that can help the brain deal with stress more efficiently.
Exercise can protect your brain from decline, improve memory – and promote creativity.
That wonderful balance of brain chemicals that are produced through exercise also protect your brain from age-related degeneration by supporting the hippocampus, an important part of the brain for memory and learning. Studies have shown that this effect actually boosts memory and learning for children and adults who exercise regularly.
Furthermore, researchers have confirmed that exercise increases creativity – and that these results lasted for at least two hours after exercising. There’s some inspiration for you!
Exercise can promote a positive relationship with your body, with your community, and with nature.
Working out promotes a healthier self-image, and better self-esteem, while also getting you away from the computer or TV and out into the world. When you exercise at a gym or with the support of friends or trainers, you benefit from the support of your community. Social support is a powerful protective factor for mental health. For those of us who run, walk, hike or do our fitness practice of choice outdoors, we also get the benefits of nature therapy. Both exercise and exposure to nature are known separately to have positive effects on mental health; together, they provide a synergistic effect that is even greater than exercise alone.
Scheduling more exercise into your routine will provide an overall benefit that affects your body on many levels — both physically and mentally. The rewards are abundant, and sometimes immediate. The first step is making the commitment, making the time, and getting the support you need to follow through. Like all good things in life, it is worth the effort.