Healthy Minds: Staying Physically Active

When we think of exercising it’s easy to consider the physical benefits first. Building muscle, improved cardiovascular health and weight management are all great outcomes from regular exercise, but what we don’t always think about is the impact exercising can have on our mental health.  

The mental health benefits of exercise fall into two categories; physical and cognitive. Physically, exercising encourages our brains to release natural hormones such as endorphins and norepinephrine. Endorphins give us a sense of happiness or feeling good, while norepinephrine can improve cognition and reduce stress. Exercising can also help regulate our circadian rhythms by making us more tired. This helps our bodies know when it’s time to sleep which can reduce fatigue.  

Cognitively, exercising can help us improve our perception of ourselves. Setting goals that are achievable such as exercising three times a week, walking a mile a day or getting through a workout video feels great when we get to the finish line. The best part is that achieving a simple goal will often push us to strive for more difficult goals, keeping us interested and motivated to keep going. Achieving goals is a contagious thing and by taking joy in getting to the end of an exercise goal we can encourage others around us to set goals of their own. 

The best part about exercising is that you should set your own pace. Exercising doesn't have to be rigorous or strenuous, depending on your age and the amount of exercise your body is already used you can see tremendous benefits from something as simple as walking for 15 minutes a day. In fact, if you’re new to exercising it’s incredibly important that you don’t push yourself too much as it can cause injury. If you’re unsure where to start, your primary care physician should have suggestions or refer you to another medical professional. 

May God bless you as He works through you to bless others,

Ryan Walker

Director of Outreach and Development