subject: Imagine The Psychological Benefits Of Exercise And Thrive [print this page] If you know people who exercise on a regular basis, you may notice that they seem a bit happier and carry themselves with a spring in their step. This is because exercise is beneficial for both the body and the mind. With all the self-help books on the market and the personal health industry becoming more well known and in the mainstream, more people are realizing that personal enrichment is healthy and positive and necessary for a harmonious and balanced life. The connection between exercise and our mental health is becoming very clear. While exercise is excellent for getting in shape physically, it can also help get you into shape mentally.
How can exercise help you mentally?
1. Exercise improves your self-image. It not only helps you to look better, but it is a great way to take care of yourself. If you exercise, you are showing that your body and yourself as a person are important to you. Since exercise requires discipline, it can help us to feel a sense of accomplishment when we achieve our fitness related goals. Exercising produces visible results when goals are met, which is a great mental booster.
2. Exercise increases serotonin and endorphins. Not to get all scientific on you, but exercise increases both serotonin, also known as the happy hormone, and endorphins, a hormone that makes you feel euphoric. This improves your psychological health - most anti-depressants are serotonin regulators, so it's like taking Prozac without the pill, and makes you feel better about the world in general.
3. Exercise is also effective for stress reduction. We all have problems, stress and annoyances that come up on a daily basis. No one person is immune to these things, but it's what we do and how we react when negative things happen to us that will ultimately determine our fate. If you've ever wanted to run away from your problems, exercising may be your answer. You can literally exercise your stress away. Increased physical activity can aid you in relieving stress and clearing your mind.
4. Exercise raises your sex drive and reduces PMS. Both men and women can appreciate this effect. It is well documented that exercise raises your libido, and reduces the debilitating side affects of PMS. Aside from looking better, which raises your self confidence in the bedroom, exercise can reduce cramps, lower back pain, and of course the crazy mood swings that come with PMS, clearly a win-win situation.
5. Exercise also helps to improve your quality of sleep. Often, we have difficulty sleeping because our mind is still active and filled with the stress from the day. Some people have a very hard time relaxing and turning off the mindless chatter in our heads. By exercising, you can relieve this stress. It also aids in the secretion of melatonin, a hormone that assists in maintaining your sleep schedule.
And of course on top of all the psychological benefits, you get the physical side affects too: reduced weight, better muscle tone, a healthier immune system, better circulation, and any number of other good things. With so many physical and psychological benefits, what are you waiting for? With a little bit of time and effort, you can lose your spare tire and your case of the blues at the same time!
