These days you may find a lot of people constantly chatting about physical health and mental well-being. But have you ever wondered about the correlation between the two, or did you know? Your mental health has a profound impact on your physical fitness, which means if one deteriorates, the other will fall with it. You can call it a direct relationship between the two. People have been talking about the impact of mental health on physical fitness for a long time. Yet, the other way around is less spoken about.
However, being physically fit can also significantly influence your psychological health. All of us are fully aware that physical fitness reduces the chances of obesity and similar other diseases. But today, we will discuss a different side of the story. Would you like to know some of the benefits of physical fitness on your psychological well-being? Great! Let’s jumps right in, shall we?
- Fighting Depression with Exercise
A WebMD survey reveals that depression during the recent pandemic has increased from 32% to a whopping 61% only in the US. The survey further suggests that a wide range of psychological disorders have remarkably increased over time. However, lockdowns during the pandemic restrained individuals from visiting the gyms, leading to an increase in home-based workouts. At the same time, the demand for online tutorials and health apps went high. It also became an excellent opportunity for health enthusiasts in general to upgrade their skills. Whether students or professionals, be it in the health care industry or not, opted for courses and diplomas in various subjects. Food enthusiasts enrolled for nutrition-related classes while budding mental health professionals enrolled in online masters in counseling to take their careers to the next level.
- Under Stress? Start Exercising
There were many cases reported in which stress seemed to soar sky-high during the pandemic. Reports from Statista reveal that 33% of people in the US, whereas 26% of people in the UK and Canada have reported signs of stress, anxiety, or depression. However, studies have revealed that exercising releases hormones that can relieve stress. Why? Exercise releases endorphins (neurotransmitters) that stabilize mood, and you feel good instantly.
- Exercise to Combat ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can sometimes put your routine at risk. However, putting all your focus and effort towards physical well-being can significantly control ADHD. It further creates a possibility to improve concentration, memory, and mood, but how? Dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin produce stimulation as soon as there is any physical activity. All these hormones have a profound impact on mood swings, focus, and memory.
- Boost Energy with Physical Fitness
The Journal of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics revealed that people who complain about fatigue and lower energy levels could participate in simple exercise and boost energy by 20% and may reduce lousiness and fatigue by 65%. If you want to have a career that focuses on holistic well-being, an online masters in counseling will facilitate you in helping people achieve their health goals.
- Stay Physically Fit to Sharpen Your Memory
Sounds strange, right? How can exercise help you remember anything? Nevertheless, a paper from Harvard says that moderate-intensity exercise can help in improving memory within six months.
Furthermore, physical strength also influences your sleep patterns. If you cannot sleep at night (suffering from insomnia) or have a broken sleep time, you better start paying attention to your physical well-being. Within a few days, you will notice that your sleep cycle is getting better. For better sleep, you should exercise one to two hours before going to bed. Later than that might have the opposite effect.
- Build Stronger Resilience with Physical Fitness
Resilience is a skill that people acquire over time. To be resilient, here is what the Benson-Henry Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) Program suggest:
- Meditate
- Add aerobics to your routine
- Start looking at the upsides of a scenario rather than the downsides
- Laugh more often
- Be optimistic and avoid negativity as much as you can
Baby Steps to Begin Your Journey to Mental and Physical Strength
Everything will not come overnight. To achieve all the mentioned benefits above, you have to take baby steps. Never jump to two hours of exercise at the gym for this. You will only exhaust yourself within a few days and give up. The better way is to start with 10 minutes a day, and after two weeks, increase this to 15 minutes a day. It will help you raise your bar and stick to the plan efficiently.
Need another tip? Start with cardio exercises 15 minutes a day or take 20 minutes to walk after every meal. Studies also recommend yoga. It’s simple, keeps your body fit, and above all, it is the perfect mind relaxing game you can play.
Apart from the exercise, be sure that you consume healthy food such as fruits, veggies, all kinds of meat, and even cheese can help you out. All that matters is how you eat it. It’s a healthy lifestyle that counts.
Key Takeaways
There are researches loaded on the internet that tell you about the vitality of mental health to achieve physical fitness. However, people have now discovered that it is a two-way road. If your physical health is not in good shape, don’t expect your psychological well-being to be in optimum condition.