Exercise and Mental Health
Getting exercise and regular physical activity is one way to help boost your mood and improve your mental health. Researchers suggest that exercise’s effect on your body helps make you more resilient and better able to handle stress. Although the biggest benefits for mood are those who engage in regular high-intensity workouts (e.g., exercise vigorously on most or all days), moderate intensity and even low-intensity exercise is beneficial for those with depressed mood and anxiety. For example, walking, jogging, dancing, swimming, and gardening all help with managing these symptoms. In addition to boosting your mood, exercise also helps to improve sleep quality, energy, and your fitness. Exercise has demonstrated to be equally effective as pharmacotherapy; however, in order to achieve this exercise should be a lifestyle change – taken as a regular habit.
Suggestions:
- Try to exercise for 30 minutes at a moderate intensity (e.g., brisk walking at about 3-4.5 mph) for at least 3 days a week.
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