How exercise contributes to a sense of wellbeing
Its often believed that selfcare is all about buying yourself a gift or going to get quality food from your favorite restaurant. Though this is true about selfcare, there is more to it.
Self-care seeks to ensure that your physical health is prioritized at all times.
Therefore, keen attention is placed on your nutrition (having a nutrient rich and balanced diet daily), consuming adequate water, being consistent with your doctor appointments.
Making the decision to take care of yourself is critical as it directly impacts your mental health. Physical activity is a powerful habit that ensures that the mental faculties operate in a positive manner daily giving you the ability to commit to tasks at home, work, and school.
When you are physically active you are able to not only commit to these tasks, but you will have the mental ability to perform them well even under stress. Physical activity is a self-care act that creates a better coping mechanism to deal with inevitable stressors that may arise daily.
Benefits of Physical Activity on Mental Health
It’s a given, psychical activity is known to positively impact physical health. however, did you know that it also impacts your mental health?
As individuals, based on how we have been cultured in society we are easier to pay attention to our physical well-being. We try to stay in shape and manage weight gain or weight loss to be comfortable and healthy. The same energy is necessary to encourage physical activity for our mental health.
Physical activity keeps the brain sharp, ensuring it functions well. It does so by keeping your serotonin and dopamine levels (feel good chemicals) in healthy zones. These are neurotransmitters which are important to keep the brain functioning as it ought, thus keeping your mood positive.
When your mood levels are healthy you are more able to stay clear from mental ill-health. Thus, minimizing your risk of mental illnesses like depression and anxiety.
Other excellent ways that’s physical activity improve mental health includes:
Increased focus – Physical activity keeps the mind sharp. You are better able to concentrate and stay focused on your daily tasks and commitments even amidst pressure.
Reduced stress levels- Physical activity helps you to manage your stress levels and keep them from getting you flustered or excessively overwhelmed.
Improves your memory – Physical activity keeps the mind refreshed thus improving your natural ability to remember things and function more effectively.
Increased self-confidence – Physical activity boosts natural chemicals within the body such as dopamine and serotonin as earlier discussed which help you to feel good. This boosts your self-confidence and mood drastically.
Final Thoughts
Undoubtedly physical health improves your mental health in a myriad of ways that will prove to make you feel, think and act better on a daily basis.