By now, many of you understand the consequences of an inactive lifestyle. Having an inactive lifestyle can lead to health complications such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, as well as many other chronic illnesses. For many, working out means changing their body image for the better, some may simply want to challenge themselves, but have you ever thought about the benefits to your mental health? In the following article, you will read on how exercise can drastically improve the mental health of a person.

Better Sleep at Night

If you’re the type of person that has a hard time falling asleep at night, then exercise might be your best bet. When one has a challenging workout, their body temperature begins to rise. As this temperature slows down, it provides the person with a calming effect on not only your body but also on your mind. This leads to a more relaxed state of mind and body when you are ready to lay down for bed, which, of course, leads to a better night’s sleep. In addition to providing us with a better night’s sleep, exercise also helps regulate our internal clocks, AKA circadian rhythm. This is the part of the body that tells us when we have to go to sleep and when we are rested enough to wake up.

Improved Emotional Balance

One of the most proven benefits of working out on a weekly basis is that it provides people with an emotional balance. When you begin to move around through the process of exercise, you are then allowing your body to increase endorphin levels. This is a chemical produced by the brain and spinal cord, which then leads to what many call the “feel good” chemical. When exercise is absent from the body, it can then lead to an imbalance of chemicals in the brain and thus affect your mood. This leads to episodes of depression and anger, such as many experience while driving. Even road rage isn’t without negative repercussions. Thus, it is incredibly important for the sake of your mental health to include some sort of cardiovascular activity within your week.

It Can Even Make You Smarter

If you’re in college or simply wanting to increase your knowledge, exercise can improve this area as well. Studies conducted on humans, as well as mice, have concluded that when one includes a cardiovascular exercise routine into their week, they are helping to build up new cells. This inclusion of new cells, also called neurogenesis, helps to boost overall brain performance. In addition, exercise also helps slow down any cognitive decline in the brain as well as memory loss, to name a few. Lastly, scientists have also concluded that adding in a couple of workouts per week can help with a person’s creative abilities and, thus, their overall mental state.

Creating a better life should be the goal for everyone; this includes their mental state. The best way to achieve this is to provide your brain with the necessary chemicals needed to improve your mood. This, of course, all starts by adding some exercise to your week.

We are encouraging everyone to stay active and healthy at home. Check out this library of FREE Virtual Classes provided by Les Mills!