By Shelby Skrelunas
The two don’t sound like they would have any connection, but in fact the benefits of working out for not only physical health but mental health is the perfect combination. Not only does a fitness routine allow you to achieve all of your body dreams, but also allows you to have a healthier mind and a better outlook on your everyday life. Take a minimum of 20 minutes a day to exercise and see the many benefits take effect on you.
1. Exercise and Mental Health
Exercise can alleviate symptoms from anxiety, depression, and negative moods. Working out release’s endorphins, and released endorphins = HAPPY HUMAN. Endorphins create feelings of happiness and euphoria. This is ESPECIALLY beneficial in people who suffer from anxiety or depression, these “feel good” chemicals that are released can calm the mind and relax the body, and can help people with anxiety disorders calm down. High intensity intervals or any high intensity aerobic exercise can reduce anxiety sensitivity, and in some cases just taking a 10-minute jog can be just as effective as antidepressant pills. How’s that for awesomeness?
2. Nothing Like Some Self-Love
Exercise can reduce feelings of low self – esteem and social withdrawal. This is pretty much self-explanatory but I’ll go deeper into it anyway. Exercise = healthier bod and a more positive self-image. When you are done with a workout, you are overwhelmed with feelings of accomplishment and regardless of where you are in your fitness journey, exercise can quickly elevate a person’s perception of their own attractiveness. A simple workout routine makes anyone feel and look like a million bucks, and having a positive self-image can bring out the best in you, making you want to go to more social outings. We all could use a little self-love, get a gym membership!!
3. Exercise = More Productivity
We’re human, we’re going to feel unmotivated, uninspired, we’re going to have day where we lack energy, and have days where we might just not want to do anything. If you’re feeling this way and need a good pick me up, EXERCISE. Individuals who take time for exercise on a regular basis have more energy and get a lot more done in a day then their peers who do not.Exercise increases blood circulation in the brain, which is linked to improved attention. Energy levels rise and your super human productivity powers come about!
4. Let’s Get Creative!
Did you know that a quick pump can boost your creativity? Pretty dang cool right? Having troubles and need your creative mind to wake up? Let’s go get our workout on! A heart pumping gym session can boost your creative mind for a couple hours afterwards, the best kind of workouts for creativity should be done outdoors, so go for a jog on your favorite trail, take yourankle weights outside and enjoy nature while you’re at it, this allows for the biggest burst of creative thinking.
5. Reduced Stress and Anger
Exercise can be a healthy way to release frustration. When you are stressed, your muscles tense up, adding more stress and negative feelings to an already stressed self. Exercise can be a healthy way to release this frustration, and also can release muscle tension. Take a kickboxing class, go for a run, lift some weights, the list goes on. After a good sweat, it will leave you feeling refreshed and much happier.