Some of us have always used exercise as a way to clear our minds after a long day. For others, like me, exercise was a 4-letter word. The last thing I wanted to do when I got home was exercise. And I definitely didn’t want to get up earlier than necessary to work out before going to work.
Now that I don’t have to get up at any specific time, formal exercise is the second thing I do each morning. Seems sort of strange for someone who hasn’t exercised since college back in the dark ages, right? But I decided, now that I had the time, it would be good for me.
And it has been good for me in more than one way. Of course I am in better shape than I have been in a long time. That’s a given. But exercise has also helped my idle mind. My mind that kept wanting to retreat to some dark places.
According to the National Institutes of Health, exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative moods and by improving self-esteem and cognitive function.
Great Lakes Psychology Group attributes these 5 mental health benefits to exercise:
- Boosts your mood
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Helps you sleep better and gives you more energy
- Can give you a sharper memory and mental alertness
- Can improve your self-esteem
If you’re like me and have never had the exercise bug, a more formal form of exercise can be beneficial. It provides a schedule, as well as a routine. You don’t have to answer the questions, “How often should I exercise?” or “What do I do? Sit ups? Squats? Cardio?”
Of course you can join a gym or a class. Gyms seem to always have some sort of special to draw people in for membership and many classes will allow you to try a class out prior to joining. The benefit of these options are you have someone teaching you the correct way to do the exercise and ensure you are doing it correctly, and bring a social aspect into play. They also add the extra motivation of being sure that you go since you are paying for it. But gyms and classes can be expensive, especially over time.
Another option is to download an app on your phone. There are lots of apps out there, and they are much less expensive than a membership or a class. Plus, if you use an app, you are able to exercise as it fits into your schedule, on your time. You don’t need to make sure your schedule works around what time a class is or the trainer is available. However, while the apps show you how to do each of the exercises, there is no one watching over you to make sure you are doing things correctly.
I have found two apps that I like. The first is FitCoach. The app allows you to choose what types of exercises you want to do (yoga, cardio, stretching, etc.), how often you exercise, the difficulty or strenuousness, and to set goals.
The second app is BetterMe. This app not only has the exercise plan built into it, but also provides mental health information, as well as the ability to track your calories, water intake, and steps. The workouts change every day so there is never a feeling of repition.
So if you aren’t already, take a chance on your body and your mind and give exercise a try! And if you are new to exercise, give yourself a break. You’re not going to be lifting 100 pounds or running a marathon next week. But you will feel the benefits next week.
