Written by: Audria Smith
Many people see exercise as a benefit of only weight loss, physical strength, and looking good, but it is a valuable aspect of mental health as well.
According to a study done for The Primary Care Companion (2006); “Exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression and negative mood by improving self-esteem and cognitive function… as well as alleviate symptoms such as social withdrawal.” This year has caused a lot of strain on our ability to be the usual social creatures that humans naturally are and has shown signs of pressure on mental health. It is therefore vital to participate in exercise for your mental health as you would for your physical wellbeing.
Related: Overcoming grief
First step to a happier you
One of my martial arts instructors always says, “the hardest step to exercise is the first one.” Exercise and mental health really do go hand in hand. Once you start exercising you feel tired both mentally and physically and you go to bed early and wake up feeling more rested and eager for your next training session. After a few days of training your mood changes, you feel happier, you start having a cheery disposition. This happens because exercise is the safest way to boost endorphin levels that make you less depressed and keeps you calm to decrease your chances of anxiety.
SELF-ESTEEM AND SOCIAL WITHDRAWAL
We tend to have low self-esteem and do not want to be social because we are more conscious of how we look and feel. Once we get the ball rolling with exercise, we love how we feel because we are in shape, allowing us to love ourselves and how we look a lot more. This builds self-love and appreciation for our body. With exercise, we can be socially distant while still enjoying the company of persons with the same goal by exercising remotely via zoom. This reduces social withdrawal as we like the community that is created through the need to work out.
Related: Lifestyle changes due to COVID-19
A FOCUSED AND YOUNG MIND
Doing different exercises that are designed to challenge one’s mind and the completion of tasks with help to improve focus and coordination ability. This ability will help anyone from children, young adults, and most definitely seniors preserve and, in some cases, improve their ability to focus on tasks and complete some them with more accuracy as well as in a shorter time than they are known to do. This ability helps the brain function to be at the capacity of a younger more alert person.
If we can make that first step to get out of bed, out of the couch, and do regular exercise; we can improve not only our physical health but our mental health. So, let’s stop making excuses such as the sun is too hot, or you will start tomorrow and just get moving today!
To read more, please purchase a copy of Buzzz Caribbean Lifestyle Magazine Vol 10 #8 in a store near you.
Follow the Buzzz on Instagram and Facebook
Share this post:
Written by: Audria Smith
Many people see exercise as a benefit of only weight loss, physical strength, and looking good, but it is a valuable aspect of mental health as well.
According to a study done for The Primary Care Companion (2006); “Exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression and negative mood by improving self-esteem and cognitive function… as well as alleviate symptoms such as social withdrawal.” This year has caused a lot of strain on our ability to be the usual social creatures that humans naturally are and has shown signs of pressure on mental health. It is therefore vital to participate in exercise for your mental health as you would for your physical wellbeing.
Related: Overcoming grief
First step to a happier you
One of my martial arts instructors always says, “the hardest step to exercise is the first one.” Exercise and mental health really do go hand in hand. Once you start exercising you feel tired both mentally and physically and you go to bed early and wake up feeling more rested and eager for your next training session. After a few days of training your mood changes, you feel happier, you start having a cheery disposition. This happens because exercise is the safest way to boost endorphin levels that make you less depressed and keeps you calm to decrease your chances of anxiety.
SELF-ESTEEM AND SOCIAL WITHDRAWAL
We tend to have low self-esteem and do not want to be social because we are more conscious of how we look and feel. Once we get the ball rolling with exercise, we love how we feel because we are in shape, allowing us to love ourselves and how we look a lot more. This builds self-love and appreciation for our body. With exercise, we can be socially distant while still enjoying the company of persons with the same goal by exercising remotely via zoom. This reduces social withdrawal as we like the community that is created through the need to work out.
Related: Lifestyle changes due to COVID-19
A FOCUSED AND YOUNG MIND
Doing different exercises that are designed to challenge one’s mind and the completion of tasks with help to improve focus and coordination ability. This ability will help anyone from children, young adults, and most definitely seniors preserve and, in some cases, improve their ability to focus on tasks and complete some them with more accuracy as well as in a shorter time than they are known to do. This ability helps the brain function to be at the capacity of a younger more alert person.
If we can make that first step to get out of bed, out of the couch, and do regular exercise; we can improve not only our physical health but our mental health. So, let’s stop making excuses such as the sun is too hot, or you will start tomorrow and just get moving today!
To read more, please purchase a copy of Buzzz Caribbean Lifestyle Magazine Vol 10 #8 in a store near you.
Follow the Buzzz on Instagram and Facebook
Share this post: