The word “Exercise” gives us visuals of a sweaty body and a muscular and well toned body for people to envy! But, exercise isn’t something that should just be touted for physical fitness only. Exercise has a great impact on the mental health of people and there is evidence based research which indicates so.

Don’t think of exercise as a chisel to sculpt your body. It is more than that! It helps you feel more energetic throughout the day, sleep better at night, have laser-sharp focus, feel more relaxed, and feel a sense of accomplishment and positivity suffused.

If you aren’t a person who loves doing high-intensity workouts, do moderate ones! Just don’t shun the idea of working out, because it is a powerful tool to deal with mental health problems, improve your energy and outlook, and get more out of life!

But how exactly does exercise help to heal the mind?

• Depression

Exercise is a powerful depression-fighter. It promotes positive changes in the brain and new activity patterns that provide feelings of calm and well-being. Exercising releases powerful chemicals like dopamine that make you feel upbeat. Finally, exercise allows you to remove all the negative thoughts from your body that cause depression.

• Anxiety

We live in a world with never ending work pressure, constant information in-flow and our smartphones constantly buzzing leave us in an information overload mode causing serious anxiety amongst a large part of the population. Since the mind and body are closely linked, when your body feels better, your mind will feel better as well. And there is no way to make the body feel better than regular exercise.

• Trauma

Focus on how you feel when you exercise. We are born with a wandering mind, thinking relentlessly about a myriad of things that bog you down. By paying close attention to the physical sensations in your joints and muscles, even your insides as the body moves you can calm yourself down. Exercises that engage both legs and arms are some of the best ways to combat trauma.

• Sharper memory

The endorphins make you feel better, help you concentrate with relentless focus, and feel mentally sharp for every task that shoots like a challenge.

• Higher self-esteem

Exercising daily means nourishing your mind, body, and soul. It fosters your sense of self-worth and makes you feel powerful. You will feel great about yourself and feel a sense of achievement.

• Better sleep

Exercising regulates the sleep cycle and makes you have a sound sleep. Even a little amount of exercise each day impacts your sleep cycle.

• More energy

Increasing your heart rate with exercise makes you feel energized with new vigour. Start working out for shorter periods of time and increase your workout time as you feel more energized.

• Resilient

When faced with mental or emotional challenges in life, exercise can help to build resilience and cope healthily. Instead of resorting to alcohol, drugs, or other negative behaviours that ultimately only make your symptoms worse.

The Upshot

With Actiwoo, you don’t need to devote many hours from your tightly packed schedules. Just 30-minutes of moderate exercise tracked five times a week is enough to energize you. We can help you make exercise an integral part of your life and in turn you will look better, feel better and get more out of life.