Here’s Why Exercise Makes You Feel So Good

It is becoming more and more important that we take the time to take care of our mental health as well as taking care of our physical health. Exercise is a great way to combine both mental and physical well-being in one go, the rush of post-workout endorphins is something that no one can deny enjoying.

Exercise has many benefits when it comes to improving your fitness, strength, and endurance, but it can also play a vital role in improving overall mood, releasing endorphins, boosting brain health, raising your self-esteem, and improving quality of life.

There can also be a large sense of community within the fitness space, and this can help build a source of social support which can help boost your mental health.

Why is exercise linked with mental health?

There have been a number of studies that have investigated the link between mental health and exercise, one study by University of Nebraska Medical Centre stated that “Exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood and by improving self-esteem and cognitive function."2 Exercise has also been found to alleviate symptoms such as low self-esteem and social withdrawal.

In many studies, the health benefits from regular excise should be encouraged within the mental health space as it helps to improve sleep, stress, mood, energy, mental alertness, and other physical aspects too.

How does exercise impact the mind?

Exercise or physical activity has also been linked to your brain's ability to think, learn or problem solve, and promote better emotional balance. There are also links between exercise and improving memory and reducing the risk of diseases associated with cognitive decline, such a dementia.

One study by Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention found that cognitive decline is twice as common in adults who are inactive than those who are active.

There is evidence that also shows that regular exercise helps you to sleep and recover better, could reduce the risk of some cancers, and can aid in promoting a longer life.

What are endorphins?

Endorphins are a chemical released in the brain and are commonly known as the ‘feel good’ chemical. They are natural pain and stress relievers which are released when performing enjoyable activities such as exercise.

Endorphins are a neuropeptide or chemical signal the brain releases to block the perception of pain, they are released by the brain during enjoyable events but also in relation to emotions such as laughter and love. They can also be linked to enjoyable foods and pain management.

Increasing endorphin levels can help to boost mood and self-esteem, support cognitive function and immune health, and reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as regulate appetite and reduce inflammation.

What are the mental health benefits of exercise?

There are many benefits of exercise, we’ve pulled together the top mental health benefits:

Improves mood

One of the biggest things that exercise can do is improve your mood—the feel good chemicals can help you feel better. We all know that post-workout high, and this comes down to those endorphins. The more we stimulate them, the higher the level we can build and in turn these chemicals can help improve your mood, reduce anxiety and depression, and stimulate a feeling of calm.

Improves sleep

Making sure to exercise regularly can help to improve your sleep and the quality of it—a good night’s rest can help to support your brain function. Exercising helps our body release feel-good chemicals such as endorphins which reduce pre-sleep anxiety, and can help improve some common sleep problems such as restless leg syndrome, insomnia, and sleep apnea.

Increased energy levels

Regular exercise is a great way to boost overall energy levels, again down to those awesome feel-good chemicals that can help to block pain perception and leave you feeling better, helping you feel more energized and helping you move.

Regular exercise also helps cardiovascular health and overall fitness which makes going about daily activities easier and leaving you with more energy at the end of the day.

Reduces physical health issues

Making sure to work out regularly can help you to manage physical health, which can boost mental health too. From helping with weight management to improving bone and muscular strength, as well as cardiovascular health, it can help you perform everyday activities.

Many studies have shown that those who exercise regularly were less likely to suffer from health problems such as heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure, or diabetes, as well as mental diseases such as dementia.

Improves your confidence

How you feel about yourself can impact your mental health significantly. Having good self-esteem is a great way to boost our mental health and it’s been shown that regular exercise can significantly help with improving self-esteem, thus boosting mental health.

Exercise makes us feel mentally and physically stronger, which helps to boost self-esteem both in our ability to perform and in promoting a positive attitude toward our bodies.

Improves cognitive function

Exercise is a great way to delay the cognitive effects of aging and some cognitive-related disease such as dementia.

Studies have shown that concentration and cognitive function are enhanced after exercise and over a prolonged period of regular exercise, you can improve blood flow and increase protein levels in the brain, aiding in cognitive function.

Tips for getting started with exercise for your mental health

Want to get started but aren’t sure how? Don’t worry. Here are our top tips for getting started on your fitness journey for better physical and mental health:

Start slowly and gradually build

Take your time to build new habits and allow your body and mind to adjust to new movements and a workout schedule. Once you’ve gotten into the swing of things and feel more comfortable and confident, you can then start to build up the length, frequency, and intensity of your workouts.

Workout with a friend

It can be scary to start going into a gym or a program on your own, so why not get a friend, family member, or colleague involved and workout together. This is a great way to build confidence and have someone to motivate and encourage you, while also keeping you accountable.

If you don’t have someone to work out with it’s not a problem, joining a class or trying class-based gyms are great ways to find a supportive community of likeminded people to keep you motivated and have some fun.

Be flexible with your routine

Remember when starting out that life happens and it’s important to not worry or blame yourself if you need to change your plans or workouts one week. Take the time to plan your workouts for the upcoming week and be flexible with your routine if you need too.

We can’t predict life but by being flexible with your training, you can make sure you don’t feel overwhelmed or have too much pressure.

Find a program you enjoy

When starting out, making sure you enjoy your program is a great way to stay committed and motivated to keep going. Workouts don’t have to be long and boring, there are many different styles of training that you can try.

Keeping things fresh can also be a great way to keep your body guessing and beat any potential training plateaus, while keeping you on track to reach your end goal.

Take home message

Are you ready to improve your physical and mental health? Yeah, we thought so! There have been numerous studies that show the endless benefits that exercise can have on your mental health, from reducing anxiety, stress, and depression to improved cognitive function, helping ward off cognitive diseases.

There is no feeling like that post-workout high and regular exercise can help the body to translate that into confidence and improved self-esteem. If those weren't enough, the physical benefits such as weight management and improved strength can also have you feeling better about your physical and mental self.

Remember, you don’t have to go mad, even 30 minuets of exercise a day can make a difference. From getting out for a walk to a sweaty HIIT session, any physical activity can make you feel better. There are so many different ways to be active that everyone can enjoy the benefits.