Working out regularly is not just about building muscles, staying in shape, and reducing your waistline. Working out also has a lot of additional benefits such as improving your sleep patterns, feeling energetic, and also improving your mental health. In today’s blog, we will analyze how working out can impact your mental health and change your outlook on your day-to-day life.
What the experts say:
According to research, working out can greatly improve your mental health by helping treat depression, anxiety, and mood swings. Experts have observed that working out 5 times a week can greatly improve your memory, improve your sleeping cycles, and help you stay energetic throughout the day. Besides, helping you look good, working out helps boost your self-image and confidence, which in turn can improve your productivity at work as well.
What’s the science behind this:
Working out can put your body’s hormonal level back to normal, by reducing your cortisol levels and increasing your dopamine levels. According to a survey conducted by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, a 15-minute jog or walk reduces the risk of depression by 26%. Working out can also help treat anxiety, as it helps a person use his/her energy in a more productive manner, thus helping them cope with anxiety or panic attacks. As exercise helps the body produce more endorphins, it helps you feel energetic when needed.
How often should you workout:
So if working out regularly is beneficial, should you workout 2-3 hours a day? Like any good thing, if done in excess, it can have a detrimental effect. Over exerting your body can increase cortisol levels, cause you to feel fatigued both physically and mentally, and can result in body soreness resulting in injuries. Working out for extended periods must be avoided, as the benefits of working out efficiently and limited can soon be lost. Experts recommend working out 4-5 days of moderate exercise a week for 15-45 minutes, depending on what your goals are. Exercising regularly can help boost your cardiovascular health, improve your mood and boost energy and performing any sort of physical exercise regularly will only help you maintain good physical and mental health.
Questions?