It's a scientific fact that regular physical activity and exercise can make us healthier and happier. When we're active, the body releases feel-good hormones that can improve our mood and boost our energy.
Other benefits of exercise for mental health include:
- Boosting our self-esteem and confidence
- Increasing motivation and focus
- Reducing tension, anxiety, stress and mental fatigue
- Helping to calm the mind, especially when dealing with difficult emotions like anger, frustration and sadness
- Reducing loneliness by offering new ways to get together with family and friends and meet new people
Ways to be active for your mental health
- Move at your own pace
Find ways to move that you enjoy and that fit in with your daily routine, health and lifestyle. Think about what might help you, as different activities might result in different benefits.
- Keep going
Setting goals can help with motivating us to stay active. Set small, achievable goals that you can increase at your own pace over time. And celebrate achieving each goal you set yourself.
- Get a regular fix of feel-good hormones
It's better to keep your exercise regular if you can. This means you will get a regular dose of those feel-good hormones that we produce when we're active to help keep your mood lifted for longer. Feeling the benefits of being active can help us to stay motivated and stick to a regular routine.
- Use physical activity to switch off
Physical activity can be a great way to switch off from worries or stress. Just a few minutes of moving can make a big difference to your mental wellbeing.
- Get outdoors
Being out in nature can boost our mental wellbeing, so get active outdoors. Going out for a short walk, run or cycle might boost your mood and reduce or stop feelings of worry or anxiety.
- Know when to rest
Relaxing, resting and getting good sleep can make a big difference to our mental wellbeing, make us feel more in control and help us to focus.
- Every step you take counts
New habits might be hard to create, but do not let that put you off – everyone starts somewhere. Remember that every minute you're moving counts. You're not competing with anyone (including yourself) and big changes often start with small steps.
One of the best things we can do for our mental health and wellbeing is to be active – it's a natural mood booster.
Adapted from Be active for your mental health - Every Mind Matters
