Today, life is extremely stressful, especially for people living in metropolises. In addition to daily hustle and bustle, personal and social problems are among the biggest causes of stress. Stress is known to cause many health problems. Your nervous system when you are stressed; It stimulates your body by secreting hormones such as adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol. The secretion of these hormones can cause chronic diseases in the long run.
On the other hand, stress negatively affects mental health. Intense stress can invite many mental problems, especially anxiety disorder. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the stress level. There are many ways for this. Experts say that for coping with stress and a healthy psychology, concepts such as healthy nutrition, sports and meditation should be emphasized. Regular nutrition and physical activity are essential for both mental and physical health. So, what are the effects of physical activity on our psychology?
How Does a Sedentary Lifestyle Affect Joint Health? You can reach our content that we discussed the question via the link.
Why is Psychological Status Important?
In order to understand the effects of physical activity on psychology, first of all, it is necessary to know why mental health is so important. Understanding exactly how much your mental health affects your life can be a motivational factor when trying to benefit from exercise.
Psychology Today explains that the presence of a healthy mind allows people to understand their life experiences, stay in touch with their emotions, and more. High-quality mental health can enable you to make sense of events clearly and be more productive. Being a mentally healthy individual affects how you feel about yourself, how you interact with others, and much more.
How Does Being Physically Active Affect Psychology?
Being physically active has many health benefits. Regular exercise can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart and blood pressure. But apart from that, an active life; It can also help release dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphin, known as happiness hormones. These hormones can help you feel better, sleep better, and increase concentration.
You don't have to spend hours at the gym or run a marathon to be physically active. You can choose an activity based on your physical strength, time and interests.
Being physically active means getting your body moving and working your muscles: for example, you can be physically active by walking, running, dancing, swimming, doing yoga or doing house and garden chores.
According to a study published in the famous medical journal The Lancet and conducted on 1.2 million people in the USA, it was revealed that people who exercise felt better for more days than those who did not exercise.
The study included all kinds of physical activity, from childcare, housework, lawn mowing to fishing, cycling, going to the gym to jogging and skiing.
Participants were asked to record how many days in the past 30 days they rated their mental health as 'not good' based on stress, depression and emotional problems. In addition, they were asked how often they exercised outside of their normal work in the past 30 days, how many times a week or month they did this exercise, and for how long. On average, participants reported feeling bad 3.4 days each month. Compared to people who reported not exercising, people who exercise reported 1.5 fewer days of bad mental health each month.
Even participating in household chores led to an increase in good mental health in the study. Although any exercise resulted in improved mental health, it was seen that the strongest effects for all participants were obtained with team sports, cycling, aerobics and gym exercise.
What are the Effects of Physical Activity on Psychology?
People who exercise regularly feel more energetic during the day, sleep better at night, and feel more relaxed and positive about themselves and their lives. Physical activity is also seen as a powerful treatment for many common mental health problems.
Regular exercise can have an extremely positive effect on depression, anxiety and ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). (Source: 1) It also reduces stress, improves memory, helps you sleep better and improves your overall mood. Research shows that a small amount of exercise can make a real difference. No matter your age or fitness level, you can learn to use exercise as a powerful tool for coping with mental health issues, improving your energy and outlook, and getting more out of life.
Other effects of physical activity on mental health can be listed as follows:
Improves Memory and Eases Focus
Being physically active increases the release of endorphins. This helps you feel better and concentrate more easily. Exercise also stimulates the growth of new brain cells, which helps prevent age-related decline in brain cells.
Increases Self Confidence
Regular activity is an investment in your mind, body and spirit. When it becomes a habit, it can improve your sense of self-worth and make you feel empowered. You feel better about your appearance. On the other hand, the feeling of success that emerges when you complete your exercise goals reinforces your self-confidence.
May Help You Sleep Better
Even short-term exercises in the morning or afternoon can help you regulate your sleep. As exercise will improve your physical health, it also helps to increase sleep quality. The exercise routine you create for the morning hours can also motivate you to get up earlier and start the day earlier. If you prefer to exercise at night, you can give relaxing exercises like yoga or meditation a shot.
You Feel More Energetic
Increasing your heart rate several times a week can allow you to move more. You can start with just a few minutes of exercise a day and increase your exercise time as you feel more energetic. However, let us remind you that if you have a chronic disease, you should consult your doctor before creating an exercise plan.
Your Stress Level Decreases
Another benefit of physical activity is that it reduces stress levels. Increasing your heart rate can reverse stress-induced brain damage by stimulating the production of neurohormones like norepinephrine, which not only improves cognition and mood, but also improves thinking that is clouded by stressful events
