The Psychological Benefits of Exercising

 

    Most of us know the physical benefits of exercising and lifting weights. Building lean muscle mass, losing weight, increased energy, lower blood pressure and many more. But there are also many psychological benefits of exercise as well. From easing symptoms of depression and anxiety to keeping your memory sharp, there is no shortage of mental benefits of exercise. Exercising can help you mentally feel so much better about yourself.  Here are some thing that going to the gym, weight lifting or just generally exercising can mentally help you with.

 

1. Help you with depression and or anxiety

Exercise is a scientifically proven mood booster, decreasing symptoms of both depression and anxiety. Active people kicks up endorphin levels, the body’s “feel good” chemical produced by the brain and spinal cord that produces feelings of happiness and euphoria. Even just moderate exercises through out the week can improve depression and anxiety, so much that some doctors recommend trying out an exercise regimen for these conditions before turning to medication.

 

    2.Increased self-esteem and self-confidence

From improving endurance to losing weight and increasing muscle tone, there’s no shortage of physical achievements that come about from regular exercise. All those achievements can all add up to a boost of self-esteem—and the confidence that comes with it. Oftentimes it happens before you even realize it. It’s just one of the many benefits of physical activity that boost your body, mind, and spirit.

 

    3.Decreased in stress

Another mental benefit of exercise is reduced stress levels—something that can make us all happier. Increasing your heart rate can actually reverse stress-induced brain damage by stimulating the production of neurohormones like norepinephrine, which not only improve cognition and mood but improve thinking clouded by stressful events. Exercise also forces the body’s central and sympathetic nervous systems to communicate with one another, improving the body’s overall ability to respond to stress.

 

    4.Building brain activity

From building intelligence to strengthening memory, exercise boosts brainpower in a number of ways. Studies on mice and humans indicate that cardiovascular exercise creates new brain cells—a process called neurogenesis—and improve overall brain performance. It also prevents cognitive decline and memory loss by strengthening the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning. Studies also prove that physical activity boosts creativity and mental energy.

 

    5.Better sleep
If you have trouble getting a good night’s sleep, exercise can help with that, too. Physical activity increases body temperature, which can have calming effects on the mind, leading to less sheep counting and more shuteye. Exercise also helps regulate your circadian rhythm, our bodies’ built-in alarm clock that controls when we feel tired and when we feel alert.

 

    Exercise isn't all about losing weight! Moving your body can have a big impact on how you feel emotionally. Working out stimulates your brain chemicals and releases endorphins, which are feel good chemicals. So if you're not feeling so great emotionally, a good fitness session could help boost your mood. This can be especially beneficial if you struggle with depression, anxiety, or stress. When you are at the gym and you have to exercise you may not feel happy about it or fun at first. Sure its not easy to lift weights, and sure it sucks to sweat all over yourself, and of course it suck to feel soar after the workout. But when you go through a routine and you finish and you think to yourself “I did it”, “I accomplished it” then that is a good feeling. You always feel better about something when you accomplish something.