Exercise is good for our wellbeing but it’s not always explained ‘why’ it benefits us. The idea of exercise can sound like torture, depending on who you speak to. The benefits of exercise are short-term as well as long-term. There are mental as well as physical wellbeing benefits to exercise. Below we outline the benefits of exercise:
- We feel great about ourselves
Exercise offers physical and psychological health benefits. We feel good about ourselves at a psychological level as well as a physical level and it’s also a good way for us to maintain a healthy appearance.
- Exercise works against negative emotions
When we exercise endorphins are released. These are chemicals in the brain that work against depression and anxiety. When these chemicals are released by processes in the brain they lead to an improvement our mood and lead to a positive sense of wellbeing. They also work against stress. Dopamine also gets released with we exercise, These are known as feel good hormones because they are released when we are engaging in pleasurable activities.
- We’re less likely to develop chronic illnesses
Research has long established a link between exercise and health. Sedentary lifestyles are linked to longterm health problems compared to active lives. Being active contributes towards having a more fulfilling life and it’s never too late in life to introduce an exercise routine, often the earlier, the better.
Exercise can come in many forms which include running, jogging, strength training and high intensity interval workouts. You can develop an exercise routine by signing up to programmes like Couch to 5k or you can join a local Parkrun. It’s not as daunting as it seems, plus you can start light and then build it up. You can also make use of the activity planner to plan your exercise routine.