The Benefits of Exercise for Mental Health

/ Life Balance Counseling/

The past two years being in the quarantine has shown us many things. It appears we are slowly working our way out of it. Maybe some level of normalcy is returning and although the quarantine was not something we wanted or even saw coming it made us look at circumstances different. It made people consider being plant parents, learn new hobbies, and learn what does and doesn’t work for them and their mental health. Many people realized that in the quiet of life, without back-to-back schedules, not going out, not going to stores, etc. that there were mental health issues that were never fully addressed.

Being quiet and being still has ways to make us look at things we may have never looked at before. This was true for new hobbies and even coping skills people learned about during the quarantine. People learned that YouTube was overflowing with ways to be active without going to a gym or even knowing anything about exercise before. YouTube, Nike apps, and even virtual exercise classes were available and being used more than maybe ever. The best thing about working from home was also that the gym was also at home too. Many began to learn how being physically active caused positive results in their mental health too.

Studies have shown that exercise can help reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, ADHD and stress. For many of these, exercise increases different chemical levels in our brains that help us feel relaxed, happy, and can honestly be a welcomed distraction to the negative feelings that can come to our minds. These benefits alone can make someone want to lace up their shoes and even get a short walk in around the neighborhood.

Other benefits of regular exercise include:

  • Sharper memory and focus

  • Better sleep

  • More energy

  • Stronger resilience – particularly in the area of being able to cope in a healthy manner and building resilience when mental or emotional challenges arise.

Not everyone has the ability to run a 5k or devote an hour to swimming or making their way to a gym but even 10-15 minutes of physical exertion can improve mood and energy levels. So, feel free to start small and then work your way up to more time, if you have the time. And always before starting exercise make sure to consult with you doctor or physician to ensure that it will be safe for you.

Here is a list of YouTube videos to start getting those “happy chemicals” activated in your brain:

This list is just the beginning to all the resources available on YouTube. If for any reason jumping is too much for your body, you can find videos focused on exercises that do not involve jumping, or if you want to focus only on doing yoga and committing to that every day, there are yoga challenges that you can participate in.  This is all about making changes and doing things that will be the best for you and helping you reach your goals. The benefits of exercise have been studied and proven and that paired with therapy can prove to yield many positive results. If for any reason you may not know where to start ask your doctor or therapist where could be a good place to start and making some simple and measurable goals for you in the area of physical health.

By: Brandi Hatter, MSW