subject: Psychological Benefits Of Running [print this page] One of the first benefits of running is the fact that it helps individuals relieve stress. The time you get while running gives you opportunity to think without any interruptions. This can allow you to ponder your thought and release any anger or negative feeling that you may have on your mind.
Many people choose to run in the morning to mentally prepare themselves for the day ahead of them. Running provides you with an isolated time period where you can sort out the tasks ahead of you and map out a game plan for the day.
People who run in the evenings can take that time to process the day and think through everything that happened. An evening jog allows you to sift through the experiences of the day and put everything behind you.
Many professionals say that exercise is the best way to relieve stress, and is highly recommended by doctors, psychiatrists and specialists.
The second benefit to running is its ability to relieve anxiety. Though many forms of anxiety are treated with medication or counseling, exercise is a great non-drug induced treatment that is effective.
The act of running increases the serotonin levels in your brain, which has an anti-depressant effect on individuals. This reduces anxiety and makes runners generally happier.
A similar benefit to anxiety relief is something called the "runner's high." The act of running actually releases endorphins in the brain that make runners feel good. This can induce the feeling of happiness, which is said to have the ability to last for hours after running.
The forth benefit to running is increased confidence. How individuals feel about themselves is all controlled in their brain, and jogging makes people feel more confident. This is most likely due to any weight loss than may result from exercise.
The lost weight may cause them to notice their body becoming more slender or toned and clothing fitting better on their bodies. There is just something about how humans (especially women) look at themselves in the mirror that causes them to think and behave differently.
The fifth benefit is reaching goals. Human beings are goal oriented creatures; everyone wants to achieve something. Whether you're running to prepare for a race or to lose some weight; when you reach those goals you feel a sense of accomplishment that cannot be found anywhere else.
Each time you go out for a jog, you feel accomplished and good about yourself for completing the distance. When you step on the scale and see that you lost weight, or when you cross the finish line of that 5k; you feel like you can accomplish anything.
The sixth benefit of jogging is its ability to boost your mood dramatically. Just as with stress and anxiety, depression is a difficult disorder that requires treatment. In some cases that are not severe, running and exercise can lift your mood and decrease thoughts and feelings of depression.
The increased levels of serotonin and endorphins in the brain should create feeling of happiness and relief, helping to relieve individuals from mild depression.
The seventh benefit to running is it can improve your memory. Exercise helps sharpen your brain just as it sharpens the look of your body. Jogging improves your brains ability to comprehend and retain information.
It is also said to help you improve your problem solving skills by allowing you to process information more clearly. Another benefit is it gives individuals more energy. Though running sounds like a tiring activity, it actually makes people feel more energetic in the mornings and throughout the day.
Exercise can also be a great cure for drug or alcohol addictions. Many therapists suggest exercise as a replacement activity for drugs and alcohol.
The released endorphins from exercise can give addicts a "high" that is much healthier than what they received from substance abuse. The tenth benefit to running is it promotes healthy relationships.
Many people choose to run with a partner or in groups, which helps develop strong, positive relationships. This can create a camaraderie and support system.
