Mental Health Benefits of Exercise

Healthier sleep schedule

First, regular exercising can help you fix your sleep schedule. Each and every one of us has a so-called 'circadian rhythm' that regulates our sleep. It is a natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. In other words, this process is the reason why you feel sleepy when the night falls and feel awake in the sunlight. We also have a hormone responsible for sending a signal when it's time for us to go to bed- melatonin.

In most cases, we all follow a certain kind of routine and we all react to those routines differently. Here is how exercise comes into this story. If you develop a habit of waking up early and exercising for about an hour after you wake up, you will soon see a significant improvement in your sleep schedule. Experts say that the time from 6 AM to 8:30 PM is the best period for exercising, no later than that. This way, you will be getting all the benefits from your workout and be able to sleep soundly.

Fighting depression

Physical activity is, among other things, beneficial for your mental health. To be more specific, it can help you fight depression. In the long run, daily exercises, even minimal ones, can do wonders for your mental health.

Taking some time of your day to go for a refreshing walk or play sports with your friends can help put your mind at ease by distracting you from your daily responsibilities and worries. An exercise is a healthy form of outlet that lets you release stress, while also helping your brain produce more dopamine, the so-called 'happy hormone'. Try incorporating at least 20 minutes of light exercises every day and soon you'll see a major difference in your mental health.

Getting More Oxygen

In addition to that, physical activity can get your blood pumping. The distribution of oxygen throughout your whole body lets it reach vital organs, thus improving their functions. Most importantly, that is how a significant amount of oxygen reaches your brain. As a result, this will improve your cognitive functions and make you more focused and awake. For this reason, exercising in nature is the best exercising setting.

There are many outdoor activities you can try that will bring you closer to nature and its many benefits. For just a small investment, you can get a high-quality mountain bike and explore the area you live in on a daily basis as a form of exercise.

Other than that, hiking can be very exciting and you can also invite your friends and family to join you. While cycling is adrenaline-inducing, hiking is for real adventure lovers and it has a certain meditative side to it as well.

Stress management

Living in this fast-paced world puts a lot of pressure on all of us. We all face stress on a daily basis. It has become an extremely present and frequent issue of the modern-day people. Here is how exercise can help.

To a great extent, physical activity can help you let go of all of the piled-up stress. Think of it as a form of venting. By the end of your crazy-scheduled and tiring workday, you get to release all the negative piled up energy in a physical form. You can go for something a bit more intense such as a workout in the gym, or you can simply go home and try yoga for beginners. Believe it or not, both of those can help. As long as you're not stative for the whole day, either in a sitting or lying position, and get a minimal amount of physical activity, you can say goodbye to your stress problems.

Confidence and self-worth

Lastly, regular exercise can help you build a healthier image of your own body. It can boost your confidence and make you feel better about your own body. Now, it's not all about being fit. It's about having a healthy mind and soul inside a healthy body. If you think about it, exercise can be a form of self-care. You take some time for yourself, even if it's just for 20 minutes, you leave your phone aside, and you dedicate that time to yourself. Once you see progress in both your mental and physical health you will feel motivated to keep leading a happy and healthy life.

Conclusion

In conclusion, once you take all of these benefits into consideration, you can see how much a simple 15-minute exercise routine a day can improve your health and mood.