A healthy and balanced lifestyle entails taking care of all aspects of your well-being. Not only should you focus on staying in shape, but you should also see to it that your mental health is good. It’s not just about keeping mental conditions at bay; it is also about the way you feel about and react to the normal stressors that life brings.
While mental illness can be a bit difficult to detect, there are various symptoms to look out for. Classic examples include mood changes, confused thinking, withdrawal from society, or suicidal tendency. Physical problems may also show up, such as headaches, back pain, and other symptoms.
The good news is—mental health deterioration is preventable. If you’re experiencing physical symptoms, such as migraine or back pain, you can take supplements or use wellness devices, like the Migraine Stopper or back braces. If you’ve noticed other signs, it’s always helpful to work with a doctor or therapist.
Another way to prevent mental health problems is to rest and exercise. Apparently, engaging in physical activities is not only helpful in losing weight or lowering the risk of some diseases. It also brings a positive impact on one’s mental state.
If you’re looking for motivation to go to the gym or spend a few minutes jogging, take a look at these health benefits you can get.
Provides mental stability
If you have no mental illness, then you are mentally stable. But, it’s more than just that. A mentally healthy individual possesses the following characteristics:
- Confident and has self-esteem
- Knows how to balance work and play
- Enthusiastic in living and having fun
- Can cope up with stress and handle difficulties
- Adaptable to change
- Able to create and preserve relationships
- Contented in life
- Understands their purpose in life and seeks to fulfill it
Based on the items listed, you can say that a mentally healthy person is someone optimistic in life. And, one effective way to be resilient is through exercise.
When you exercise, your brain recognizes the activity as stressful. Your body then releases a protein called Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which protects and repairs your memory neurons. That is why, after exercising, you will feel at ease and have a clearer outlook of things.
Doing some form of aerobic exercise for at least 10 minutes can increase your BDNF and neurotransmitter levels, thus making it an ideal brain booster activity.
Improves your overall mood
Endorphins, also known as the “happy hormones”, are another type of neurotransmitter released when you exercise. These neurochemicals have two purposes: to minimize pain and to enhance pleasure. They act as the body’s natural pain reliever whenever you are in stress or discomfort and trigger feelings of pleasure whenever you eat ice cream, read books that pique your interest, or do any kind of rewarding activity.
Research shows that endorphins are released during continuous exercise that you do for more than 30 minutes. Afterward, you will have the feeling called “runner’s high”. Not only do endorphins stop pain signals in your body, but they also give you an adrenaline rush. As a result, you will gain a new amount of strength surpassing your previous threshold limit.
Aside from exercising, you can increase your endorphin levels through:
- Acupuncture
- Drinking wine
- Eating dark chocolate
- Hot baths
- Laughing
- Getting a massage
- Meditation
Helps reduce anxiety
Perhaps, exercise is the last thing that you would want to do if you’re having anxiety attacks. But, did you know that it can actually help treat such a condition?
A study reveals that people who have engaged in regular high-level physical activities are doing better against anxiety symptoms compared to those who only engaged in low-level physical activities. According to another study conducted by the University of Georgia, with 30 minutes or more of regular exercise, a person’s anxiety can be reduced to 20%.
In essence, exercise will divert your attention away from the very thing that you are anxious about. If you’re anxious because of a migraine trigger, you may want to try a physical activity before popping in medicines or using the Migraine Stopper. Also, muscle tension is a big contributor to anxiousness, and it can be relieved through working out. Moreover, physical activities can get your heart rate up, which releases a variety of anti-anxiety neurochemicals.
Pushes you to be more conscious
Consciousness is being aware of what is happening to you and your surroundings. But sometimes, your consciousness becomes clouded and you struggle with brain fog. This can happen because of stress, fatigue, hormonal shifts, blood sugar imbalances, and a whole lot of other reasons.
One of the most effective ways of eliminating brain fog is exercise. Working out helps get more glucose and oxygen flowing into your brain. The physical activity also burns off the stress hormone called “cortisol” and activates the formation of new brain cells.
Improves focus and concentration
Physical activities increase your concentration—a fact that is also supported by a study conducted in a group of school-aged children. Within 4 weeks, the participants have improved concentration and attention because they participated in daily exercise.
Exercising boosts blood flow to the brain. This fires up neurons and stimulates cell growth. As a result, you will improve your focus.
Meditation is one form of exercise that you can try to strengthen your attention and minimize distractibility.
Conclusion
Exercising is not just for those who are trying to achieve a target weight or physique. It also provides you with mental stability. Unlike with migraines (where you can take medications or use the Migraine Stopper for remedy), if you encounter an anxiety attack or brain fog, you can simply fight it with exercise.
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