Benefits

There are many benefits to physical activity for your mental well-being. Below are a few examples of the benefits that are offered:

Your mood

Physical exercise has shown a positive impact on our mood. Researchers have found that people who regularly have some sort of physical exercise felt more content, more awake, calmer, compared to after periods of inactivity. They also found that the greatest effect on mood was when our mood was initially low.

Impact on stress

Physical exercise can be very effective in relieving stress with research showing that active individuals tend to have lower stress rates compared to individuals who are less active. 

Self-Esteem

Self-esteem is how we feel about ourselves and how we perceive our self-worth. It’s a key indicator of our mental wellbeing and our ability to cope with life stressors. Physical exercise has been shown to have a positive influence on our self-esteem and self-worth, with that relationship found throughout across both males and females and throughout various generations from children to older people. 

Depression and Anxiety

Physical exercise can be an alternative treatment for depression and can be an empowering approach that supports self-management. It has few side effects and does not have the stigma that some people perceive to be attached to taking medications or attending psychotherapy and counselling.