Physical activity is not only great for your physical health but also for your mental health. The effects of physical activity on mental health start in the brain. When you are physically active, it releases chemicals in the brain that do things like:
- Boost your self-esteem
- Help you concentrate
- Make you feel better
- Improve your sleep
- Reduce feelings of anger or frustration
- Build a healthy appetite
- Reduce tension and mental fatigueÂ
- Give you a sense of achievement
- Improve your motivationÂ
The best part is you don’t have to pay for an overpriced gym membership or become a bodybuilder in order to benefit from physical activity.
Ways to See Physical Activity Effect on Mental Health
For some people, especially in recovery, getting physical activity can be hard when health conditions preclude being as active as you’d like to be.
Thankfully, any amount of physical activity will have a positive impact on your mood so it doesn’t have to be something over the top. In fact, living a healthy lifestyle isn’t just lifting weights or running but rather, being active and moving all day, everyday.
Nature Walks
Research indicates that simply being in nature can make you feel happier and reduce your levels of depression or anxiety.
Tip: Go for a regular walk in a green area or local park. If these aren’t available to you, visit a friend’s garden and look at what flowers or trees have been planted.
House Work
If you have property, something as simple as mowing the lawn or raking the leaves can qualify as exercise.
Tip: If you don’t have a yard that requires maintenance, volunteer your time for an elderly neighbor or friend.
Playing
Exercise is often thought of as a dedicated workout, 30 minutes or 60 minutes spent in a gym but it can be something as simple as playing with your children or children in your family.
Tip: If you don’t have children, you can find volunteer activities at local churches or community centers where you help participate in things like frisbee golf classes, archery lessons, or other active outdoor sports or classes that involve anyone of any age.
Dancing
Dancing is a great form of exercise that can be ideal if you are still in recovery and you need to work out some of your tension or stress and boost your mood. Dancing will help you feel better in as little as 15 minutes.Â
Tip: If you don’t have a partner or there aren’t classes available in your area, look for something online. You can follow along with free YouTube videos for beginners.
The Impact of Exercise on Mental Health
Any physical activity effect on mental health will go a long way toward boosting things like your muscle strength, bone density, blood flow, and oxygenation. All of this is important when trying to overcome the physical and subsequent mental damage done by addiction.
Effects of Physical Activity on Mental Health: How to Overcome Cravings and Stress
When you start a rehab program, you will likely encounter exercise sessions set aside on a daily basis if you are in a residential program and exercise plans or courses if you are in an outpatient program.
These help teach you to integrate exercise into your daily routine.
Why?
In addition to the mood-boosting benefits listed above, exercise can help you overcome cravings and stress.
In moments when you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or depressed, getting up and doing some form of exercise like dancing or yard work cannot only expose you to nature but boost your endorphins and make you feel better. Things like yoga and nature walks force you to be mindful of the present moment, looking at all the plants or trees around you or focusing on your breathing while you hold a position. This is especially useful when you are struggling with cravings or worries about the future or the past.
At American Detox, we help you build healthy routines and learn what level of physical activity is best in recovery. We teach regular exercise as part of your inpatient rehab program. The more types of exercise to which you are exposed, the more resources you can access when you are feeling full of energy versus low on energy or anxious versus depressed.
Call our team today to learn more about our treatment center and the impact that exercise can have on your mental health.
