Exercise can have more than just a physical impact on your life. In fact, studies have shown that exercise can play a role in positively affecting your mental– and emotional–health.
Your brain and exercise
As you work out, your brain begins to increase its blood flow, releasing hormones and creating new neural pathways. This response to physical activity contributes to that post-workout feeling of being on top of the world.
Those feelings directly correspond to the hormones that are released during your exercise routine.
- Endorphins give you a feeling of pleasure and can increase your self-esteem.
- Serotonin helps regulate your appetite, sleep, and overall mood.
- Dopamine is a habit-forming hormone that helps make your new workout routine one that lasts. It signals the pleasure centers in the brain and can help motivate you to continue to seek that
post-exercise feeling.
A combination of these hormones, as well as an increase in relaxation and a decrease in stress, often will leave you feeling better—and wanting more.
Exercise and depression
A consistent workout routine can have the same results as medication when it comes to fighting mild depression. Those feel good hormones can help fight off negative thoughts, feelings, and emotions. The act of exercising itself can take your mind off the things that feed into your depression.
Finding an exercise that works for you, and following it consistently, will allow you to break away from the negativity that depression can bring.
The benefits of exercising
The first thing everyone thinks of when it comes to exercise is it will make you look good physically.
While that can be true, the effects exercise has on your life entirely will often outweigh the benefits of the physical reward alone. Additional exercise benefits include:
- Confidence. When you feel good you look good, and when you look good you feel good. A never-ending cycle of being your best self.
- Socializing. If you’re new to exercising, try it with a friend. Not only will you begin to enjoy the feeling of working out, you’ll enjoy the company too.
- Energy. A consistent workout routine can regulate sleep habits and increase energy levels, leaving you full of energy throughout your day.
- Better decisions. The decision to work out is already a step in the right direction of making better decisions. Forming a habit of regularly working out can help you make better decisions in other aspects of your life.
Don’t let pain stop you from exercising yourself happy
If you’re like the many others out there who enjoy a regular workout routine, but are suffering from knee or joint pain; don’t wait to find relief.
Make an appointment with our LMPN Orthopedics team to find a solution to your pain. Offering the highest level of quality care, our orthopedic physicians will get you back to your best self so you can Build Better Health and exercise yourself happy.
