It’s a well-known fact that exercise and physical activity are great for our physical health, helping us lose weight, build muscle, and maintain overall fitness. However, many people overlook the equally important mental health benefits that come from staying active.
Engaging in regular exercise not only boosts physical well-being but also plays a significant role in enhancing mental well-being. From reducing stress and alleviating anxiety to improving mood and promoting better sleep, exercise has a profound impact on our mental state.
Discover the full mental health benefits associated with regular exercise below. Don’t forget to look at our Facebook page and YouTube channel for easy-to-follow exercise routines that you can do from the comfort of your own home.
The benefits of exercise on mental health
There are a wide range of mental health benefits of exercise, including:
- Improved mood
- Reduced stress
- Better sleep and more energy
- Positive impact on depression and anxiety
- Improved confidence and self-esteem
Any type of physical activity counts – whether you’re going on long walks, or doing aerobic exercise, you can instantly reap the benefits.
Improved mood
Regular physical activity and exercise is known to improve your mood. This is due to the extra endorphins released while exercising. Endorphins are natural mood boosters which quickly and easily improve your overall feeling of wellbeing and happiness, leading to better mental health.
Reduced stress
Similarly to the above, exercise can reduce your stress levels due to the release of natural endorphins. There are lots of obvious signs of stress, such as broken sleep, tense muscles, a pounding pulse and even neck and back pain.
Regular physical activity will help to relax your muscles and relieve any tension you’ve been feeling. The improved mood from the endorphins will also be effective in reducing your stress hormones.
Better sleep and more energy
If you exercise regularly, another one of the positive effects it can have on mental health is a better night’s sleep. Moderate physical activity to high-intensity workouts are the best types of exercise to really improve both the length and quality of our sleep. As little as 30 minutes of moderate exercise can really make an impact in how well you sleep at night, as well as how quickly you fall asleep.
Better sleep also gives you better energy levels throughout the day and keeps you feeling energised for longer. As you keep up the regular physical activity, you will notice you can workout for longer and do more intense workouts with ease.
Positive impact on depression and anxiety
There have been various studies on the benefits of exercise on mental health problems such as depression or anxiety, with even the NHS promoting exercise as a useful way to boost your mood if you have mild to moderate depression.
A simple activity, such as going out on a walk, can not only improve your outlook and get you in the fresh air, but the endorphins released are a powerful way of improving your overall wellbeing.
The reduction in stress from regular physical exercise is also known to improve anxiety and anxious thoughts. Again this is from the mood boost from endorphins released during exercise.
Improved confidence and self-esteem
When taking part in regular workouts and physical activity you will notice both the physical benefits of becoming fitter and stronger, and an overall improved outlook and sense of wellbeing. Reaching your goals and improving your physical fitness helps to improve your mood, confidence and self-esteem.
Where to start with physical exercise
If you’re a beginner to regular physical activity, then don’t push yourself too hard or put too much pressure on yourself. Start out at your own pace with easy ways to get in your exercise. This could include a nice walk before or after work for just a few minutes as part of your daily routine.
Once you start to gain confidence you can look at taking part in more intense and harder exercise, such as aerobic exercise, online or in-person classes or joining the gym. Take a look at our beginners guide to joining the gym to discover all you need to know about how to get started at the gym.
Check out our class timetable with over 60 weekly classes to choose from!
Start your fitness journey
Bluecoat Sports are proud to offer fully equipped gym facilities to those in Horsham and the surrounding Sussex areas. We have a range of available and have a fully equipped gym and over 70 classes a week.
Take a look at our online classes on our YouTube channel or consult with a personal trainer about an exercise programme. Start your fitness and mental health journey today.
If you have any questions about our memberships or classes, get in touch with our team today – we’d be happy to help!
