#Fitness | 12 MIN READ

Exercise regularly to boost mental health and well-being

Regular exercise helps maintain a healthy body and an active lifestyle. We all are aware of this, but did you know that it contributes equally to mental health and well-being?

People who exercise regularly can relate to the calm and breezy feeling that settles in after completing their exercise regime. People, who are not into any form of regular exercise, might also relate to how their mood brightens after that occasional game of badminton or cricket or those rare events of walking, swimming, cycling, or dancing crazily on party nights. Any form of activity helps elevate the mood and boost the spirit.

In the present-day world, mental health concerns are constantly on the rise. Our changing lifestyle, the highly competitive environment, and the growing addiction to the virtual world have led us to lead isolated and sedentary lives. We would rather watch our favourite programs on OTT or YouTube than catch up with family and friends over the weekend. We have our mobiles to keep us busy when we could be socializing at a gathering. A sedentary life, in combination with social deprivation and isolation, has adverse effects on the brain and behaviour of individuals. This is why the lockdowns imposed to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic majorly impacted the mental and emotional well-being of the global population.

There are many examples of people with physical disabilities having made remarkable achievements. Mental toughness can help overcome all obstacles and achieve the impossible. However, there are also examples of achievers who succumbed to mental health issues and lost everything to it, in some cases even their lives. The point here is that mental health is of utmost importance to lead a happy and healthy life and calls for as much time and attention as physical and financial health.

Physical activity promotes several changes in the brain, including neural growth, reduced inflammation, and the release of brain chemicals that energize your spirit and make you feel good. Exercising outdoors helps connect with nature and allows some quality ‘me time’ to break away from thoughts and worries that feed depression. Working out with friends or family can be a healthy distraction from the busy schedule and the unending to-do lists

Exercise helps alleviate stress and anxiety. When we are anxious or stressed, it often translates to physical symptoms like tense muscles, tightness in the chest, a heavy head, increased heart rate, or an upset stomach. We naturally start pacing the floor, stretching our limbs, or fidgeting to relieve the tension. This is the body’s natural response to take control of the situation. Physical activity helps release endorphins in the brain that help relax the muscles and relieve tension in the body.

Regular exercise not just enhances the mood but also has curative effects on long-term depression. Research has proven that exercise, as a form of behavioural therapy, has shown great promise in alleviating symptoms of depression. And it not just helps treat depression but also plays an important role in preventing a relapse.

Regular physical activity not just helps keep mental health issues at bay but also offers several other health benefits. It contributes to your physical health in terms of strength, stamina, appearance and agility. A healthy body naturally fosters a healthy mind and raises self-confidence and self-worth. Exercise also functions as resistance training for the mind and body and thus helps build mental and emotional resilience that enables you to cope better with life’s challenges. Better energy levels, clear thinking, sharper memory and focus, and quality sleep are other significant advantages of indulging in moderate to high physical activity for a minimum of 30 minutes daily.

The human body was designed for action, to struggle and strive for survival. The complex detailing of body parts and mechanisms to enable different movements was hardly required for the sedentary life that we lead nowadays. The life energy stagnates in a still body. And stagnated energy translates into physical and mental illness. Hence, it is essential to keep the body active and agile like a river for the energies to flow smoothly throughout the system and keep you physically and mentally active.

“To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”- Buddha.